Palo Alto Unified school district’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) provides educational opportunities that recognize the performance capabilities of gifted students as well as addresses the unique needs and differences associated with having these abilities. The goals of Gifted and Talented Education can be defined as follows:

• To provide students with opportunities for learning that maximize each students' abilities.
• To assist and encourage students to acquire skills and understanding at advanced academic and creative levels.
• To aid students in expanding their abilities to communicate and apply their ideas effectively.
• To engender an enthusiasm for learning.

Program Model
In elementary and middle school, the program model for GATE is differentiation within the mainstream classroom. In 2001, new legislation called for a change in GATE education. Rather than pull children from class for a different curriculum, all differentiation takes place within the context of standards-based instruction in the regular classroom. Teachers enrich and extend the core curriculum for gifted students by differentiating instruction, content, and process. Through differentiated assignments developed to meet their academic and intellectual needs, GATE students are able to explore and expand to their maximum potential. These differentiated curricular opportunities are available to all students, not just those who are formally identified. In middle school, students also have access to the Renzulli Learning System to allow them to individualize their education based on their needs, interests and creative abilities and to explore the curriculum in greater depth and complexity. Advanced math courses are available for the first time in 7th grade and continue through 12th grade. In high school, gifted students are able to take advanced, honors, and advanced placement courses in a wide variety of subjects.

Identifying Gifted and Talented Students
The district’s identification procedures are equitable, comprehensive and ongoing. Formal identification for GATE begins in 4th grade. This assessment for GATE will be scheduled at least once each school year. Nominations may come from teachers, parents or others who know the student. Once students are nominated, a combination of multi-measures must be used to identify students as gifted and talented:

• Standardized test scores
• Checklists of Indicators of Giftedness
• Multiple Intelligences Checklist
• Teacher judgment, including class work and grades
• A non-reading test of cognitive processing skills (the Ravens Progressive Matrices),
• Individual Test scores
• Out of district data

The GATE standards and the Ed. Code require us to use information from many sources before identifying a student for GATE. These standards do not allow us to identify based on only one of the above measures. Parents will be notified by letter of the GATE identification process and if their child has qualified as a GATE student. Placement will be made only with parent permission.

Gate Advisory Committee
The GATE Advisory Committee for the elementary and middle schools is comprised of administrators, teachers, and parents. The Elementary and Middle school Advisory Committees meet three-four times each year to plan and evaluate the GATE program. If you would like to participate in either the Elementary or Middle school Advisory Committee please email Barbara Lancon.

Elementary Gate Advisory Committee Meetings

Date	Time	Location	Program
Nov. 19, 2008	7:00PM	Walter Hays Elementary School Library	“Understanding Your Child's Learning Style" – Parents Place
Feb. 18, 2009	7:00PM	J.L. Stanford Middle School Library	“The Profoundly Gifted Student” – Davidson Institute
Apr. 29, 2009	7:00PM	District Office, Staff Development Room	“Math Night" – District Math Specialist

Middle School Gate Advisory Committee Meetings

Date	Time	Location	Program
Sept. 24, 2008	7:00PM	District Office, Staff Development Room	Introduction to Renzulli Learning System
Feb. 18, 2009	7:00PM	J.L. Stanford Middle School Library	“The Profoundly Gifted Student” – Davidson Institute
Mar. 11, 2009	7:00PM	District Office, Staff Development Room	TBA

GATE Resources for Parents and Students

A list of resources for gifted children used by Palo Alto parents and teachers includes: