Dysart Unified School District 89

Mission Statement
To deliver educational programs designed to assist gifted individuals to achieve their full potential in intellectual pursuits, community leadership, and creativity. This mission is achieved through the use of sound differentiated instructional strategies that include but are not limited to: complexity, depth, novelty, pacing, independent study, and acceleration. Professional expertise is fostered and exemplary resources are utilized to develop intellectual rigor, humane values, and creativity. The program recognizes and responds to the diverse gifts and talents in children and youth from all cultures, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and socioeconomic groups.

Statement of Purpose
Based on the unique needs and characteristics of students identified as gifted, the mission of the Dysart Unified School District is to provide an array of services to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of these students in our community.

General Information
Dysart Unified School District is committed to providing quality services to all students including those who are identified as being exceptional through demonstration of high cognitive ability.

Dysart provides two levels of service for students who qualify for services from the Gifted and Talented Program (G.A.T.E.). Students qualify for the Individual Learning Plan (ILP) when they earn a percentile score of 97 or higher on any one of the three areas assessed: verbal, nonverbal, or quantitative. The ILP is written in collaboration with the parent and teachers and is implemented in the regular classroom.

Students may be eligible to attend a self-contained classroom for gifted students if they obtain a score of the 97th percentile or higher on the verbal and quantitative subtests and also obtain a score in the 90th percentile or higher on the Nonverbal subtest. These classrooms are open on a space available basis. Students who qualify and whose parents agree to the placement, will be transported to the school where the program is offered.

Students may be referred for testing by the parents, the teachers, the principals or the students themselves. All referrals will be reviewed by the Student Study Team at each school. Those students referred on by the SST will be tested on the posted testing dates once parental permission for testing has been obtained. Parents will be notified of testing results within two weeks of testing. Parents must provide consent for GATE services before services will be implemented. Parents of students eligible for ILP services will be invited to meet with the teacher to develop the ILP.