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Saturday May 17, 2008
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ACTS PROGRAM
(Able, Creative, and Talented Students)
PHILOSOPHY |
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It is the belief of the Burlington-Edison School District that each student should have the opportunity to develop her/his talents and abilities to the maximum. At the grade school level, every effort is currently made to meet those needs within the regular classroom. Current research and literature indicate that the regular classroom provides the healthiest setting for most students' academic needs.
Some students, because they are identified as more able, creative, or talented, can benefit from enriching experiences of greater depth, breadth and rate, and that extend beyond the regular classroom curriculum. They also benefit from opportunities to work with other students of similar interest and abilities.
Recognizing the unique needs of these students, the district Committee for Able, Creative, and Talented Students (ACTS) has developed a program to provide the opportunity for these students to further explore and refine their interests and abilities. The program is based on Joseph Renzulli's Enrichment Triad Model, which provides activities at three levels of participation: general exploratory, group training activities, and individual or small group in-depth investigations. During this school year we are focusing on providing more opportunities at the third level, individual or small group in-depth investigations.
Program characteristics include: |
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Broader definition of who is gifted. Allows for program to be extended to more students than the top one and one half percent funded by the state. The ACTS talent pool is made up of approximately 15 percent of the elementary population. |
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A second, more defined pool will participate in pullout classes providing Level III experiences throughout the school day. |
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Enrichment classes are offered at a variety of times, allowing flexible participation depending on interest, without penalty. These are Level II Activities. |
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All students at targeted grade levels may participate in Level I general exploratory activities. |
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Enrichment classes draw upon the support and talent of district staff and local community members to mentor classes. Emphasis on finding people who exhibit enthusiasm and passion for what they do and are able to convey that to students. |
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Students pay tuition for enrichment classes to support the program. Exceptions are made for those who qualify. |
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Addresses primarily academic abilities, with some focus on performing and visual arts and vocational abilities. |
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Support is provided for regular classroom teachers with highly capable students with the class. |
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Pullout classes offer units of study, which extend the regular curriculum. Focus is on academic challenge, independent work ethics and responsibility, and spiral up through grades 4-8. |
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Students scoring 97% or higher in one or more areas of a standardized achievement test are referred to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Testing. |
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