• GIFTED EDUCATION

    The Lee County Board of Education offers a gifted program that ensures services to all students at each grade level cluster are of comparable quality and duration; and provides a differentiated program in content, process and product. Referrals will be accepted for grades K-6. Lee County Schools conducts Child Find activities for all 2nd grade students in the system to determine eligibility for the gifted program.

    Gifted students are those who perform, or who have demonstrated the potential to perform, at high levels in academic or creative fields when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment. These students require services not ordinarily provided by the regular school program. Students possessing these abilities can be found in all populations, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.

    A student may be referred for consideration for gifted services by teachers, counselors, administrators, parents or guardians, peer, self, or any other individuals with knowledge of the student’s abilities. Lee County Schools screen all referrals to determine if formal and informal assessments should be administered to continue the decision making process concerning eligibility. Students referred for the gifted program who do not meet the screening criteria will not continue the eligibility process. In addition, all second grade students will be observed as potential gifted referrals using a gifted behavior check list.

    For each student referred, information is gathered in the following three areas:

    • Aptitude – Aptitude should be assessed through individual or group test of intelligence or creativity
    • Characteristics – A behavior rating scale designed to assess gifted behaviors is completed by a classroom teacher.
    • Performance – At least three indicators of performance at a gifted level must be submitted. These may include, but are not limited to, achievement test scores, grades, products, work samples, and/or portfolios.

    The scores from the assessments/items used are entered on a matrix where points are assigned according to established criteria. The total number of points earned determines if the student qualifies for gifted services.

    A variety of service delivery options are available for gifted students throughout Lee County such as: resource room pull-out programs, content area classes, seminars, independent study, dual enrollment, cluster grouping, and curriculum compacting.

    Because gifted learners have abilities and needs different from typical learners, gifted program offerings differ from typical education in content, process, product and learning environment

    If you have any questions or would like to obtain additional information regarding the gifted program, contact the gifted program director at 334-705-6000.