New Hanover County SchoolsAIG Program

NHCS Guide to Program and Standards

In July of 2009, the State Board of Education approved the North Carolina Academically or

Intellectually Gifted Program Standards.

Each district had to align their programs with the 6 standards and 51 practices outlined by

the state. The counties accomplished this through a three year AIG plan.

Standard 1:Student

Identification

This standard outlines how our district screens,

refers, and identifies students

for the gifted program.

Overview

In New Hanover County, we use multiple screeners, anyone can refer a student, and we have five criteria for identification. A student must meet 4/5 criteria to qualify.

Standard 2:Differentiate

d Curriculum

This standard demonstrates the

rigorous and challenging

curriculum we offer our gifted students

Overview

Our district supports research based curriculum and instructional strategies. Some examples are provided.

Jacob’s LadderJunior Great Books Primary Education Thinking

Skills (P.E.T.S.)Problem Solver SeriesHands On EquationsInteract SimulationsProject Based LearningService ProjectsLearning ContractsChoice

Standard 3:Personnel

and Professional Developmen

t

This standard ensures that

persons working with gifted students

in our district are highly qualified.

Overview

Each month, Gifted Education Specialists (GES) meet to train. In addition, the NHCS has developed Credentials for AIG, professional development in working with gifted students, for classroom teachers to complete.

Standard 4:Comprehensi

ve Programmin

g

This standard promotes the

development of K-12 programming

and services, involving the total school community.

Overview

Comprehensive programming ensures that the entire school community has ownership of the gifted program. While facilitated by the GES, the program should involve students, parents, teachers, administrators, counselors, and community members.

Standard 5:Partnerships

This standard promotes

partnerships between the

school, parents, and the community

at large.

Overview

Partnerships are developed at the school and district levels. In NHCS, we strive to expand our partnerships. How can you help?

Standard 6:Accountabilit

y

This standard

requires that the AIG program be

monitored to ensure that all programs and

services offered are effective.

Overview

In the era of school accountability, we are continuously looking for ways to evaluate and improve the AIG program. Test scores, surveys, longitudinal studies can provide us with information to guide our growth.

Full standards document can be found at:

http://nhcaig.wikispaces.com/file/view/aig-programstandards.pdf

HTTP://NHCAIG.WIKISPACES.COM/FILE/VIEW/AIG+FINAL+PLAN_2010.PDF

New Hanover County Schools AIG Plan 2010-2013

Gifted children have no greater obligation than any other children to be future leaders or world class geniuses. They should just be given a chance to be themselves, children who might like to classify their collections of baseball cards by the middle initials of the players, or who might like to spend endless afternoon hours in dreamy reading of novels, and to have an education that appreciates and serves these behaviors.

– Jane Piirto