Gifted Education
Gifted Education
“Through our gifted education program, our gifted students have been given
numerous opportunities to develop and explore their talents. We have made steps
in the right direction by strengthening the EGAT (Exploring Gifts and Talents)
program, establishing a leadership program and a GI (gifted intellectual) series
program. Our board has been extremely supportive or our efforts to enhance
opportunities for our gifted students,” commented Superintendent Tim Eaton.
Pulaski County has been recognized for the steps and commitment the district is
making to gifted education. Dr. Julia Roberts, Executive Director of the Center
of Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University has spotlighted the Pulaski
program in several workshops and seminars sponsored by the Kentucky Association
for Gifted Education. In addition, several districts have utilized forms
developed by Pulaski’s gifted specialists who have also been invited on several
occasions to talk with others about Pulaski’s programming.
Pulaski County has made a commitment to challenge gifted students to greater
heights and to identify those talented children that are sometimes overlooked.
In fact, statistics show that typically 80% of the gifted and talented are
underachievers.
Gifted students receive a Gifted Student Services Plan (GSSP)–an individualized
plan that matches the student’s interests/needs/abilities to differentiated
service options. Schools have a curricular responsibility to differentiate,
replace, supplement, or modify the curriculum to ensure each student’s
continuous progress; to use curricular materials designed to challenge the
student and to further develop his/her diagnosed talent and/or area of
giftedness; and to provide flexible curricular and extracurricular experiences
commensurate with the student’s interests, needs, abilities.
Areas outside intellectual giftedness are being addressed through Exploring
Gifts and Talents (EGAT) days. EGAT days are a community involvement adventures
that help to ensure that the identified gifted and talented students are
provided opportunities according to their interests, needs and abilities. EGAT
brings together in one place the artistically inclined students with experienced
artists. Community artisans and professionals, from Civil War re-enactors to
professional musicians, are bringing a wealth of knowledge to students. EGAT was
started for elementary students who excel in areas such as art, drama, music,
leadership, and creativity and was so successful, the program was expanded for
middle and high school students as a continuing effort to provide gifted
students with opportunities to grow.