Welcome Letter 2023-24

 

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

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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 particular needs of these students and extend competencies in cognitive skills, learning skills, research and reference skills, communication skills, and metacognitive skills beyond the regular classroom experience.

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 intellectually advanced and creatively gifted students.  Gifted services are available for students at Morris Brandon in first through fifth grade who are actively enrolled in APS school.  Note that students in Atlanta enrolled in private schools or home study programs are not eligible for APS gifted testing and services.

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Do you have questions about how Atlanta Public Schools identify, serve, enrich, and support gifted students? 

 Please visit the APS Gifted & Talented Website.  You will find answers to frequently asked questions. 

Parent Referral

For 

“First Look Testing”

January 31, – March 26, 2024

Interested in having your child tested for Gifted?

Parent Referral – Any parent within APS may request their child’s referral 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 percentile or higher in Reading or Math on the district-administered fall semester achievement test to be referred.

Online Link Opens Friday, September 1, 2023

Click Here to complete the Parent Referral Form 

Online Link Closes Saturday, September 30, 2023 

First Look Testing

January 31, – March 26, 2024

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. 

Second Look Testing 

September 19, – October 6, 2023

A “Second Look” student is a student who received the full battery of gifted assessments in the previous school year.  A careful review of their existing data and criteria set at the district level 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

Interesting North Atlanta Cluster and GATE Facts-

• Most of the homeroom teachers at Brandon Elementary have obtained their Gifted Endorsement certification. 
• There are cluster groups of gifted-identified students in 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.
• Gifted students are accommodated in the class for instruction through pacing, instruction delivery, product, depth, and breadth. 
• Much of the high-level reasoning skills that improve 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 to student readiness, interest, and learning profiles.

Please CLICK HERE for a video orientation to gifted eligibility testing. Also, review the APS Gifted and Talented Education homepage for more details.

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 cognitive skills, learning skills, research and reference skills, communication skills, and metacognitive skills beyond the regular classroom experience.

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

Please review the Atlanta Public Schools information on Gifted & Talented Education for referrals, criteria, and more information.

Assessment
The Gifted and Talented Program at Morris Brandon offers qualifying students an opportunity to develop the following:

• Advanced Communication Skills (ACS):  Learners will express ideas clearly and effectively using advanced communication skills for various purposes.
• Creativity (CRT): Learners will generate and/or produce items, ideas, and solutions using creative thinking skills.
• Creative Problem Solving (CPS) Learners will insightfully evaluate various problems and arrive at innovative and reasonable conclusions.
• Leadership (LEAD): Students will develop an awareness of leadership skills, analyze and evaluate components of leadership, and demonstrate an effective leadership style.
• Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS): Learners will analytically critique a system or set of complex ideas, utilizing logic and reasoning skills in novel ways to create and/or modify knowledge.
• Global Citizenship (GCZ): Learners will develop an awareness of global cultures, connections, and issues to become actively engaged citizens of the world, with respect for differing values and goals.
• Advanced Research Skills (ARS): Learners will select and explore a topic, research using various sources, and analyze and evaluate the information.
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Learners will understand their unique social-emotional needs as gifted learners and develop coping and social interaction skills.

The APS Multiple Criteria Identification Process assesses students in four areas. Students must meet minimum score levels in any three of the four areas to gain admittance to the gifted program. The minimum score requirements in the four assessment areas are:

1. Mental Ability – a score greater than or equal to the 96th percentile on a standardized mental ability test. An APS mental ability assessment must be given. Students must complete the entire APS identification process before finalizing eligibility decisions.
2. Achievement – a score greater than or equal to the 90th percentile in reading or math on a standardized achievement test or a score of at least 90 on a student-generated product or performance as judged by a panel of qualified evaluators.
3. Creativity – a score greater than or equal to the 90th percentile on a standardized creativity instrument or a superior rating on a student generated product or performance as judged by a panel of qualified evaluators.
4. Motivation – 90th or greater percentile on a Motivation Rating Scale (K-8), or superior product/performance with a score of 90 or greater of 1-100, as evaluated by a panel of 3 or more qualified evaluators, or winners of academic competitions as determined by the Office of Gifted and Talented.

Student Mental Ability and Achievement scores are valid for two years from the test date; therefore, careful consideration should be taken before testing.