| Gifted And Talented Education – What’s
GATE For?
Thoughts from Merritt Booster, GATE Coordinator -- an open letter
to parents
Each year in September, I spend at least part of every day explaining
what the GATE program is, whom it is for, and why some bright
students do not qualify. I put that term in italics for a reason.
The word “qualify” makes it sound like either a race
or achievement bar, wherein lies the belief that if a student
“worked just a little bit harder they could have made it.”
That is a phrase I hear repeatedly – “My child didn’t
make it into GATE.”
GATE identification is not as cut and dried as specific score
cutoffs. Realistically, of course, a school district has guideline
scores that give indications of a student’s ability and
whether or not GATE identification is indicated. They are just
guidelines, however. Multiple measures are used to try and get
as broad a picture of a student as possible. Our GATE Criteria
specifies that identification is indicated when a variety of measures
reach a certain level of alert.
Sometimes we watch students for one or more years to see how
the students develop, what their needs are, and have more than
one teacher observing how they learn and think. There are a number
of third graders we are “watching” in this manner.
This happens every year as there are a large number of entering
third graders who are bright, high achievers, and we need time
and more information to determine whether GATE is right for them.
Generally we find that about 1/3 to 1/2 of our Watch students
end up identified for GATE the following year. The others fall
into that category of bright, achieving students who do not require
the additional services GATE provides.
The point of a program for gifted students is not to reward student
achievement. It is not a gold star that gets fixed to a student’s
cum file that will open doors in the future. GATE identification
is not needed for students to take advanced courses in high school.
It is not to advertise that this student is better than another.
Students are all different and all have individual ways they learn
best. The reason for the program is to meet the specific needs
of students who have demonstrated ability and/or achievement significantly
beyond grade level. Teachers need to be aware of such students
and have training in how to best meet their needs - both academically
and emotionally. Parents, too, need to be aware of how these children
develop and what characteristics and needs they may exhibit as
they grow. This is why such a large part of the funding and effort
of our GATE program is focused on training and education. Such
training helps all students in the classroom.
Parents of all students, whether GATE-identified or not, should
think about what their children’s needs are. Talk to their
teachers; think about participating in Odyssey of the Mind and
the Academic Scavenger Hunt. See what after-school classes interest
your child. Are there clubs your child could form with other likeminded
students, lessons to explore, family excursions you could take,
conversations you can have around the table? Students need encouragement
to value the learning process and not just grades. Study something
yourself and demonstrate not only how to learn, but the value
of learning. You are the biggest influence on your child’s
learning habits and can make a great difference in your child’s
school success.
The Rincon Valley School District is committed to a strong academic
program geared to meet the needs of all learners. If you feel
your child’s needs are not being met in the classroom, talk
with your child’s teacher to see whether or not GATE identification
would help meet those needs. If you have questions, feel free
to call or email me.
Merritt Alden Booster
mbooster@rvusd.org
542-7375 ext 4124
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