Gifted and Talented / Gifted and Talented

Gifted and Talented Program

Manasquan Elementary School

Mr. Rick Coppola, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Gifted and Talented Coordinator

rcoppola@manasquan.k12.nj.us

The Manasquan School District’s Gifted & Talented (G&T) program aims to reach students at all grade levels, providing them with opportunities for enrichment, exploration, and academic rigor in their specific areas of strength and interest. While the criteria to qualify for these enrichment opportunities vary based on grade level and content area, teachers and administrators consistently look for ways by which to provide a variety of opportunities for students to excel.

Students identified for the G&T program will be provided with exciting, project-based enrichment opportunities two to three times a month from our Gifted and Talented teachers. Students will be given passes to participate in an independent “pull-out” program to participate in these experiences. Please note that students must make up any work missed from their regular classes. In addition, the Manasquan School District also partners with the Shore Consortium for the Gifted and Talented to provide unique opportunities for student discovery and exploration.

Each student is evaluated by multiple measures to assess their abilities in STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math), Humanities, and Visual Arts. Students demonstrating potential or ability to perform at an exceptionally high level beyond what is normally found with children of the same age, experience, or environment will be identified in one or more of these areas.

All students identified in one or more areas of the G&T program (STEM, Humanities, and/or Visual Arts) for SY23-24 will be notified by October 1, 2023.

Gifted & Talented STEM (Science - Technology - Engineering - Math)

Students were selected to participate in the Gifted and Talented program for STEM based on the multiple measures outlined for each grade level below:

Grade Level	STEM
Kindergarten	iReady (September 2022) KG Screener Teacher Recommendation
1	iReady (June 2022) Teacher Recommendation
2	iReady (June 2022) Teacher Recommendation
3	iReady (June 2022) Teacher Recommendation
4	iReady (June 2022) NJSLA Math Teacher Recommendation
5	iReady (June 2022) NJSLA Math Teacher Recommendation
6	iReady (June 2022) NJSLA Math Teacher Recommendation
7	iReady (June 2022) NJSLA Math Math Honors Placement Exam Science Honors Placement Exam COGAT Quantitative Teacher Recommendation
8	iReady (June 2022) NJSLA Math Math Honors Placement Exam Science Honors Placement Exam COGAT Quantitative Teacher Recommendation

Gifted & Talented Humanities

Students were selected to participate in the Gifted and Talented program for Humanities based on the multiple measures outlined for each grade level below:

Grade Level	Humanities
Kindergarten	Kindergarten Screener Dibels (September 2022) Teacher Recommendation
1	Dibels (September 2022) Running Records (March 2022) Teacher Recommendation
2	Dibels (September 2022) Running Records (March 2022) Teacher Recommendation
3	Dibels (September 2022) Running Records (March 2022) Teacher Recommendation
4	Dibels (September 2022) Running Records (March 2022) NJSLA ELA (2022) Teacher Recommendation
5	Running Records (March 2022) NJSLA ELA (2022) Teacher Recommendation
6	Running Records (March 2022) NJSLA ELA (2022) Teacher Recommendation
7	NJSLA ELA (2022) ELA Honors Placement Exam Social Studies Honors Placement Exam COGAT - Verbal Teacher Recommendation
8	NJSLA ELA (2022) ELA Honors Placement Exam Social Studies Honors Placement Exam COGAT - Verbal Teacher Recommendation

Gifted & Talented Visual Arts

Parent Nomination - Student Application Process

The District’s Gifted & Talented program looks to reach students in all grade levels, providing them with opportunities for enrichment, exploration, and academic rigor in their specific areas of strength and interest.

Students who participate in this program will benefit from personalized instruction and guidance as they explore different art techniques and develop their own unique style. Next school year, students in grades K – 2 will receive opportunities through differentiation in their general education and art classrooms. Students in grades 3 – 8 will receive experiences that occur outside of the classroom.

The application is made up of two components:

Nomination: The nomination can be made by a parent, teacher, or art teacher. This is an opportunity to highlight your child's exceptional artistic talent and explain why they would be a good fit for the program.
Work of Art Portfolio: The portfolio requires three pieces of art that showcase your child's skill, along with a written component to accompany each piece.

To apply for the program, please complete the application form in the link(s) provided below or request a printed copy of the application from your child's art teacher.

SY23-24 G&T Visual Arts Application (English)

SY23-24 G&T Visual Arts Application (Spanish)

Applications complete with both components are due to your child's homeroom teacher by June 14, 2023. If you believe that your child has exceptional artistic talent and would thrive in a program that challenges and inspires them, we encourage you to apply. This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to develop their artistic abilities and explore their creative potential.

Gifted & Talented Appeals Process

Parents, students, and teachers may appeal the decisions of the selection committee regarding selection or removal from the gifted program by following these steps:

Submit an appeal letter to the building principal no later than 15 working days after the committee has notified the parents of the selection decision.
1. The committee members will review their decision and will respond to the person making the appeal no later than 15 working days after receipt of the letter of appeal.
2. The committee may request additional testing or data collection and may interview the student and/or parents.
If dissatisfied with the decision of the committee, file a complaint with the Manasquan Board of Education. The BOE shall issue a decision, in writing, to affirm, reject, or modify the district’s action in the matter.
If dissatisfied with the decision of the Board of Education, file a petition of appeal of the board’s written decision to the Commissioner of Education through the Office of Controversies and Disputes in accordance with N.J.S.18A:6-9 and the procedures set forth in State Board of Education regulations.

For more information regarding the Gifted and Talented Program, please consult Board of Education Policy #2464 (Gifted and Talented Pupils).