Gifted Education
Chestnut Ridge School District recognizes the need to provide gifted education services to K-12 students who have the potential for exceptional achievement. The gifted program is designed to enrich or accelerate the current curriculum. It follows the Pennsylvania State Guidelines in Chapter 16 of the Pennsylvania School Code.
Definition of Mentally Gifted:
Mentally gifted is defined as outstanding intellectual and creative ability the development of which requires specially designed programs or support services, or both, not ordinarily provided in the regular education program. (22 Pa. Code §16.1)
IQ 130 or more
The term “mentally gifted” includes a person who has an IQ of 130 or higher, when multiple criteria as set forth in Department Guidelines indicate gifted ability. Determination of gifted ability will not be based on IQ score alone. The determination shall include an assessment by a certified school psychologist. (22 Pa. Code §16.21(d))
A person with an IQ score lower than 130 may be admitted to gifted programs when other educational criteria in the profile of the person strongly indicate gifted ability. (22 Pa. Code §16.21(d))
Student Identification
Chestnut Ridge utilizes a universal screener to analyze literature and math data at the elementary level. Students who meet the established cut-offs are referred for further screening. Teacher and parent referrals are common above the elementary level.
Requests for a gifted multidisciplinary evaluation (GMDE) can be initiated by teachers, through the child find process, or through parent referral. Parents who suspect that their child is gifted may submit a written request asking for an evaluation of their child at any time, with a limit of one request per school term.
For questions or comments please contact:
Paul Engleman
School Psychologist
(814) 839-4195 Extension 2008