http://www.idahostatesman.com/Search/story.asp?ID=42905
Full text is listed below
Boise schools to start pilot program for gifted students
Full-day classes are planned for grades two to six
Bill Roberts
The Idaho Statesman
Boise School District will open full-time classes for gifted elementary students
at two schools in fall in a pilot program that will include students from Meridian
School District.
Three classes are expected to open at Valley View Elementary and two classes
at Horizon Elementary.
About 100 students from Boise and 13 students from Meridian are expected to
be in the classes, which are for students in second through sixth grade.
These gifted students are usually defined as scoring in the top 2 percent on
intelligence and achievement tests.
The program is in addition to one that opened in autumn for highly gifted students
— those with an I.Q. of 145 or higher — at Washington Elementary
School.
Boise also expects to expand its highly gifted program from 24 to 36 elementary
students next year.
The programs will not mean increased costs to the district.
Boise Schools will hire an additional teacher for the gifted and talented with
financial support from the state as Meridian´s 13 gifted students come
into the Boise District.
Until now, most gifted students in the Boise and Meridian school districts have
attended special classes for a half or full day once a week.
Boise School District wants to expand that to keep those children challenged.
Many gifted students don´t show the academic growth they´re capable
of because they don´t receive the attention they need, said Jo Henderson,
district gifted students coordinator.
“It´s a way to give us a chance to focus on these kids,” Henderson
said.
Boise School District has about 650 gifted and talented students.
Meridian signed onto the program to observe whether it will help gifted kids.
“If it does, then we will be looking at doing it ourselves,” said
Linda Clark, Meridian director of instruction. She expects the Meridian students
to be selected by lottery.
Henderson said Boise also would consider expanding the scheme if it proves successful.
The gifted classes will comprise several grades in one classroom. Though specifics
haven´t been determined, the classes will likely have students from second
through fourth grades or fourth through sixth grades.
Boise School District is also counting on the expanded gifted program as another
tool to help it maintain or increase enrollment.
The number of students in Boise schools continues to slide, from nearly 27,000
in the the mid-1990s to about 25,400 for fall.
The highly gifted program, which opened in fall at Washington Elementary School,
brought in three students from outside the district. Next year, the district
expects to bring another two students into the program.
Julie Brown, a Meridian School District mother of twin seventh-grade sons, said
she supports full-day programs and is happy that Meridian is joining in the
partnership, even though her own sons won´t benefit.
To offer story ideas or comments, contact Bill Roberts
broberts@idahostatesman.com or 377-6408
Edition Date: 06-24-2003