SAD #42 has a gifted and talented program that is designed to serve students in grades Kindergarten through grade 12.
Philosophy Statement
SAD #42 believes that gifted and talented students have special needs which must be identified and serviced. Gifted and talented students have exceptional ability, aptitude, skill, or creativity in one or more of the following categories:
- General Intellectual Ability as shown by demonstrated significant achievement or potential for significant accomplishment above their age peers in all academic areas.
- Specific Academic Aptitude as shown by demonstrated significant achievement or potential for significant accomplishment above their age peers in one or more academic area(s).
- Artistic Ability as shown by demonstrated significant achievement or potential for significant accomplishment above their age peers in the literary, performing, and/or visual arts.
Gifted and talented students shall receive specialized instruction through appropriate programming which will ensure that they have the opportunities necessary to develop their individual abilities and sustain their growth as learners.
General Principles
The Gifted and Talented Program in SAD #42 is based on the following educational principles:
- Gifted and talented children need to move at their own rate; regardless of chronological age or grade placement; therefore, academic subjects, including the fine arts, shall be taught to them in a manner that allows them to learn at their appropriate instructional level and at their own pace.
- Gifted and talented children need diversity in their educational experiences; therefore, diverse and appropriate learning experiences shall be offered through a variety of program models, instructional strategies and materials.
- Gifted and talented children need to be challenged to develop their abilities and potential; therefore, specialized curricula that are advanced, conceptually complex and carefully differentiated from regular curricula shall be provided in lieu of the regular curricula.
- Gifted and talented children’s needs vary as they progress through the elementary and secondary grades; instructional settings shall be appropriate to their changing needs.
- Highly gifted and talented children may need further modifications to their educational programs; therefore, appropriate adjustments or alternatives to their gifted and talented programs must be made.
We believe that approximately three to five percent of Maine’s students excel or have the potential to excel, beyond their age peers in the regular school program. These students require differentiated educational experiences that are aligned with Maine’s Learning Results in English/language arts, math, science, and social studies.
If you have any questions about the gifted and talented program, please contact Elaine Boulier, the program coordinator at 429-8514.