Gifted/Talented in MCPS Elementary Schools

[Anonymous]

My now 3rd grader was approved at the end of last year on a "Global Screening Report" to be included in "gifted and talented"...but other than being able to apply to a gifted and talented center for 4th grade (which we are not planning on doing), I have no sense of what this means or how it might impact my child's schooling in the future. Could anyone shed light on how this impacts a student's experience in MCPS once they have been accepted in this program? Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

The global screening is really just a label. Kids without it can still apply to GT centers and take GT classes. Kids with it will not necesarily get into GT centers. It is an indicator for the school for acceleration etc..but not much more than that. I think I read somewhere on here that 40% of MCPS students get the letter. It is defintely not a program.

[Anonymous]

Agree that it does not necessarily equate to getting specific services and it doesn't mean you are in a "program" at your homeschool, but ...

You should be asking about your child's math pre-assessment this year. What percent of the math does he already know on pre-assessment? If it's more than 60% then, depending on interest, you might want to ask about acceleration options (either compressed 2 grades in 1 year or skipping a year). GT scores suggest a child might be capable of this.

You should be asking about MAP-R scores -- what level is he/she reading at? How do the reading groups breakout w/i class -- does your DC have peers in the class reading at his/her level? If not, how will school address this? Is the higher level William and Mary reading program being implemented fully for your DC and others similarly situated? Is there some other advanced reading program used like Great Books?

Is DC particularly advanced or interested in some other area? If so, how will school meet his/her needs? For example, our DC is wildly advanced in social studies. Teacher in home school basically excused DC from social studies and allowed DC to do private projects all year. While this is not as good as being in an environment with other similarly situated peers, it is better than being bored.