NASD Holds First Gifted Education Parents' Meeting

Last year the NASD created a Gifted Education Task Force and asked for volunteers from the community, parents, teachers, and staff to participate. I volunteered and served in the area of Communications along with about ten other parents and teachers. Last night (Thursday, 10-26-06) the first Gifted Education Parents' Meeting was held in the Board Room from 7 to 8 p.m. as a result of the recommendations made by the Task Force.

What I learned on the Task Force last year was that the District in essence did not have a "Program" as much as they had some disjunct "Offerings". I can say having attended the meeting lead by Ro Mentesana, Director of Pupil Services, last night, the District is making positive gains.

Measures being implemented as a result of the Task Force are:

• Global identification and revamped entrance procedure. The District is more actively seeking students who could benefit from being in the Gifted Education Program (it was noted that there are 6 in Bushkill, 16 in Shafer, 18 in Lower Nazareth, 61 in Middle School, and 41 in High School and that roughly 2% of the population is in the 'gifted' range). Several of the testing methods were also mentioned.
• Coordination and Consistency was being implemented. This year the three elementary schools are using a common theme, but allowing individualized activities at the teacher's discretion. The MS is working through some scheduling issues they are having. The District is also working to develop better transition from one building level to the next.
• Professional Development. This year the Gifted Program was given a line item budget and program teachers were engaging more professional development. Additionally, these program teachers were discussing gifted education at faculty meetings with classroom teachers to share that information.
  
• The Pupil Services office will have revamped web pages one of which will specifically address gifted education for parents to use as a resource.
• A slim jim brochure was created providing an overview of the Gifted Program for parents.
• Articles were in the Eagles View and Newsletters are being sent from the teachers to parents informing them of classroom work and projects.

All of those steps are now being implemented. There are many more to be implemented including a Gifted Education Handbook, Surveys to parents and students on the program, data analysis of students who are eligible, attend, and then decide not to return to the program, and monitoring of gpa and pssa scores of gifted students to ensure they are meeting their potential and when they are not to work to address any issues or problems they are having.

All in all it was a good meeting showing real progress in an area that was not very well-served previously. If you have any questions about the gifted education program contact Ro Mentesana (610-759-1170 ext. 1114).