Gifted and Talented
New Jersey Administrative Code regulation (N.J.A.C. 18A:35-34) commonly referred to as the “Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education defines a Gifted and talented student as, “... a student who possesses or demonstrates a high level of ability in one or more content areas when compared to his chronological peers in the school district and who requires modifications of his educational program if he is to achieve in accordance with his capabilities.”
A twice-exceptional student is defined as “a student who is both gifted and a student with a disability. Students who are twice-exceptional are provided with the same opportunities, and access to G&T Programs, enrichment opportunities, and curricular modifications.
The regulations require students to be compared to their chronological peers in the district. New Jersey does not have state-level criteria such as mandated tests or assessments, grade point averages, or IQ scores. Local school districts must use multiple measures to identify students.
The Totowa Public Schools may identify students by the following criteria:
Timeline
Students are identified at the start of the school year (September/October) and the end of the school year in June.
Continuum of Services
It is our belief that every student possesses natural gifts and talents. Totowa Public Schools customizes instruction and activities to meet the needs of all learners, and to provide opportunities for students to discover those interests, talents, and connections through enriched experiences.
Teachers differentiate instruction to support the needs of all learners. Staff customize instruction, activities, and assessments to support the academic growth and development of learners. Examples of differentiation would be challenging learners with higher level texts and/or learning materials, questions that require a higher level of response and/or open-ended questions that stimulate inquiry, active exploration, and discovery, project-based assignments to demonstrate mastery with content and skills, and flexible pacing among other strategies.
Students in the G&T Program in Kindergarten through Third Grade are provided with STEAM enrichment opportunities using Legos, Ozbots, and other building materials to create structures, fundamentals of coding, and robotics. In Fourth Grade, students have access to the District’s Gifted and Talented Program as well as Battle of the Books.
In grades 5-8, the district offers accelerated (advanced) classes in Reading (ELA) and Math. Students in advanced math in 8th grade are enrolled in Algebra 1. Furthermore, students are identified for the District’s Gifted and Talented Program which engages students in an interest based, individualized learning activity. These experiences take place in small groups and individually outside of the classroom and emphasize rigor, rapid progress, accelerated pacing, self-directed learning, and increased complexity and depth of curriculum. Entrance in this program is based upon an established criterion. G&T students in grades 5-8 receive enriched instructional experiences in varied disciplines such as STEAM, Tech Ed./Industrial Arts, Visual and Performing Art. These subjects allow all students the possibility to excel in creative subjects and life skills. Typically, these activities are during the school day.
Complaint Process
Any person or group having a legitimate interest in the schools of the Totowa School District and who believes the district has not complied with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:35-34 et seq. may file a complaint. The Board of Education directs the establishment of procedures for resolving all complaints fairly and impartially.
The complaint should be addressed to the Chief School Administrator who shall establish procedures for the hearing of complaints. Procedures will be governed by the following guidelines:
District Policy for Gifted and Talented Students
Parent Resources
• New Jersey Association for Gifted Children (NJAGC)
• Gifted Child Society
• National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
| Grades K-2 Gifted and Talented | Click to download |
| Grades 3-4 Gifted and Talented | Click to download |
| Grades 5-8 Gifted and Talented | Click to download |