Gifted Education

Gifted education aims to provide enrichment and accelerated programs that go beyond the standard curriculum, offering opportunities for gifted students to delve deeper into their areas of interest and engage in intellectually stimulating activities. These programs are designed to challenge gifted students, K-12h grade, and provide them with the resources and support they need to make continuous progress in their education.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the Gifted Education Program, the district encourages you to reach out to the counselor in your child's school or the Special Services Administrative Office. They will be able to provide you with specific details about the program, including any eligibility criteria, available services, and how to get your child involved

FOCUS

The FOCUS (gifted) program provides services beyond those ordinarily offered through a standard curriculum. It is housed at CAIR. It is based on a differentiated curriculum, which refers to a set of experiences that are qualitatively different from those provided in the regular classroom. The learning experience of a gifted program enriches and extends concepts, skills, and strategies initially introduced in the regular curriculum. It involves problem-solving processes and higher levels of thinking that are not presented in the regular curriculum. The program meets the needs of students in both the cognitive or intellectual area as well as the affective or emotional area. The program focuses on five areas of development: intellectual abilities, understanding of self, creative potential, problem-solving skills, and lifelong learning skills. The FOCUS program services 1st grade through 12th. Students can be referred to the FOCUS program for consideration by teachers and/or parents.

PEGS

The Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students (PEGS) program identifies and serves exceptionally gifted students in a full-time academic environment appropriate for their unique needs.

Who May Apply?

Students who meet all three of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

Reside in the Grandview, Hickman Mills or Center School Districts in Jackson County, MO. Entering grades 2-5 or chronological ages for those grades.

The PEGS curriculum assures mastery of the basic knowledge and skills contained in the regular curriculum. In addition, PEGS provides an enhanced curriculum appropriate for exceptionally gifted students based on the following principles:

Acceleration through curriculum compacting in response to each student's instructional needs.
Advanced skills training in critical and creative thinking, research, and content-related skills.
A focus on creative production as an outgrowth of a student's intense interest in a topic or a passion to solve real-world problems.
Attention to the special affective needs of the exceptionally gifted child.
Special mentorship for students with business and professional experts.
Integration of PEGS students with regular education students for fine arts and physical education activities, lunch, and recess.

Student Selection
Students must meet specific criteria set forth by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. A cognitive measure, classroom performance, and other indicators of exceptional giftedness are used to identify students eligible for PEGS.

Transportation
Parents are responsible for their child's transportation to and from school.

What Happens After Elementary School?
When students finish the 5th grade in the self-contained PEGS classes at Red Bridge Elementary School, they have the option to move to PEGS at Center Middle School or return to their home districts.

If you are interested in finding out more about the PEGS Program, you may contact:

Dr. Alexis Stark
(816) 316-5013
[email protected]