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What is the Gifted and Talented Education Program?
The Gifted and Talented Education Program serves students who, when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment, demonstrate high potential or performance in the areas of art, English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies. These students require learning experiences beyond the standard curriculum.

Curriculum enrichment and acceleration are the means by which instructional experiences are differentiated to encourage the development of students' outstanding academic or creative potentials. The program provides research-based differentiated curricula to meet the needs of students who demonstrate advanced learning capabilities, PreK - 12.

The overarching goal of Gifted and Talented Education is to enhance students' capabilities to develop the learning and thinking characteristics of experts: advanced content knowledge organized around key ideas and principles applied meaningfully in problem solving.

How are students referred for Gifted and Talented Education?
Students are referred for Gifted and Talented Education through a variety of sources: parents, teachers, test scores, talent development programs, or at the secondary level, self-nomination. Referrals may be made at any time during the school year, and the referral process is ongoing throughout a student's educational career.

The school Referral and Review Team collects data from different sources to create a profile of student strengths. Data sources include learning characteristics, academic achievement, test scores, and student products or performances. Based on the student profile, the Team makes recommendations for appropriate educational services. The school Referral and Review Team informs parents about how the school will address students' identified needs.

Should my child be referred for Gifted and Talented Education?
All students may demonstrate gifted behaviors in varying degrees. It is a matter of the complexity, frequency, and intensity of the demonstrated behaviors that determines whether students require differentiated instruction in Gifted and Talented Education. Parents and teachers who consistently observe a majority of these behaviors in students should consider referring them to the school Gifted and Talented Education Referral and Review Team.

What are the student behaviors associated with success in Gifted and Talented Programs?
1. Has advanced oral and/or written language skills; expressive language
2. Makes unique connections; understands systems; sees the "big picture"
3. Asks many questions; seeks in-depth information
4. Is nonconforming; risk-taking; independent
5. Has broad and varied interests, at times, simultaneously
6. Is resourceful at finding unique solutions
7. Exhibits keen powers of observation; is highly sensitive and insightful
8. Has intense and sustained interests; transfers learning to new situations
9. Exhibits an early moral concern; is empathetic
10. Makes nontraditional responses and/or products

What are the curricula for Gifted and Talented Education?
The PreK - 12 curricula for Gifted and Talented Education provide opportunities for content enrichment, accelerated pacing, advanced-level research, exploration of complex ideas and concepts, and opportunities to work with others of like ability.

Grades PreK – 2
The Primary Talent Development (PTD) program, implemented by the classroom teacher in all BCPS elementary schools, provides all PreK-Grade Two students with opportunities to develop talents and demonstrate thinking skills through hands-on experiences and explorations.  Primary Achievement Curriculum Enrichment (PACE) curricula provide appropriate differentiation for those PreK-2 students demonstrating advanced reading and mathematics learning capabilities.

Grades 3 - 5
Curricula include highly-challenging content and materials that differentiate and extend Baltimore County Public Schools' Essential Curriculum in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Differentiated curricula provide enrichment or acceleration and are usually implemented through flexible grouping within the regular classroom.

Grades 6 - 8
Curricula for middle school Gifted and Talented Education are provided in art, English, mathematics, science, and social studies. Content-specific indicators describe what students should know and be able to do. The program is delivered in homogeneously grouped classes.

Grades 9 - 12
High schools offer a sequence of rigorous Gifted and Talented Education courses in art, English, mathematics, music, science, and social studies. Courses include advanced content and emphasize abstract and complex ideas. Most disciplines offer Advanced Placement courses in Grades 11 and 12.

Where can I get information about Gifted and Talented Education Summer Programs?
The Maryland State Department of Education
200 W. Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD 21201
Telephone: 410-767-0354 Website: www.msde.state.md.us

How can I support Gifted and Talented Education?
Citizens' Advisory Committee for Gifted Education (CAC)
c/o Baltimore County Public Schools
6901 Charles Street, Towson, MD 21204
Telephone: 410-887-4330
 
Maryland Coalition for Gifted and Talented Education (MCGATE)
www.mcgate.org

Maryland Educators of Gifted Students (MEGS)
5430 Lynx Lane
Columbia, MD 21044
Telephone: 410-313-6800
www.megsonline.net
 
The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
1707 L Street, NW, Suite 550 Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 202-785-4268 Website: www.nagc.org