Our Vision

Gifted and Talented Education in Atlanta Public Schools will architect globally competitive, critical, and creative thinkers of the 21st Century.

Mission

Through advocacy and innovation, the unique needs of gifted and talented students will be recognized, valued, and nurtured so their inspired minds are equipped to change the world.

The Georgia State Board of Education defines a gifted student as “…a student who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual, and/or creative ability(ies), exhibits an exceptionally high degree of motivation, and/or excels in specific academic fields, and who needs special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his or her abilities.”

Atlanta Public Schools provide services for identified gifted students at all levels.  The gifted program is designed to meet the very specific needs of these students and extend competencies in the areas of cognitive skills, learning skills, research and reference skills, communication skills, and metacognitive skills beyond the experience of the regular classroom.

The Georgia State Department of Education governs the procedures for identifying and placing students in the gifted program.

Gifted and Talented Education in Atlanta Public Schools (APS) provides differentiated instruction for the intellectually advanced and creatively gifted student.  Gifted services are available for students at Morris Brandon in first through fifth grade who are actively enrolled in APS school.  Note that students residing in the city of Atlanta enrolled in private schools or home study programs are not eligible for APS gifted testing and services.

1^st Look Gifted Eligibility Testing

 Informational Video on the APS Gifted Eligibility Process

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiGR9vuGfC4

2022-23 Gifted Testing & the Elgibiity Process

Interested in having your child tested for Gifted?

A “First Look” student is a student who has not been tested before or whose previous test scores have now expired. These students will receive the full battery of gifted assessments. 

Parent Referral: Online Link Opens Thursday, September 1, 2022

CLICK HERE FOR THE ONLINE REFERRAL LINK

Online Link Closes Friday, September 30, 2022 @ 4:00pm

 Parent Referral – Any parent within APS may request referral of their child for gifted testing. Parents must submit the online Parent Request for Referral for review within the referral window. Otherwise, the student will test in the following school year. Students referred by a parent must score at the 80th %ile or higher in Reading or Math on the district-administered fall semester achievement test to be referred.

A “Second Look” student is a student who received the full battery of gifted assessments in the previous school year.  Based on a careful review of their existing data and criteria set at the district level it was determined that the student qualifies for the administration of additional/alternative assessments. Parents will be notified if their child is eligible for a 2nd look assessment. Further evaluation requires your parental consent. Frequently Asked Questions

Gifted Parent University

Click here for more information about understanding the gifted models.

Flow Chart of APS Gifted Eligibility

https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/cms/lib/GA01000924/Centricity/Domain/16863/Flow%20Chart%20of%20APS%20Gifted%20Eligibility%2007.27.22.pdf

Gifted and Talented Screening and Referral Frequently Asked Questions

https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/cms/lib/GA01000924/Centricity/Domain/16863/0%20FAQs%20for%20Screening%20and%20Referral%202022-23%20English%2007.29.2022.pdf

Identification and Assessment of Giftedness Frequently Asked Questions

https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/cms/lib/GA01000924/Centricity/Domain/16863/0%20FAQs%20for%20Assessment%20and%20Identification%202022-23%20English%2008.09.22.pdf

GATE Testing Calendar

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1flzmMghkpYi3XhAyDrItGeoh2ies2svs3u-l6NGhuRk/edit

Interesting Cluster and GATE Facts-

• ·Majority of the homeroom teachers at Brandon Elementary have obtained their Gifted Endorsement certification. 
• There are cluster groups of gifted identified students in all of our homerooms across grades 1st -5th.  Gifted students no longer receive just one day of gifted instruction in a gifted resource room.
• Every classroom consists of diverse learners and our teachers provide instruction that meets the needs of the individual students.
• Students who are gifted are accommodated in the class for instruction through pacing, instruction delivery, product, depth, and breadth. 
• Much of the high-level reasoning skills that improve overall student achievement are embedded in the daily ELA and Math lesson plans supported by Wit & Wisdom and Eureka.
• Brandon has school-wide differentiated classrooms.  A differentiated classroom fosters community, leadership development, student engagement, flexibility, and the teacher’s attention on student readiness, interest and their learning profiles.