Contact: Jennifer Harrison, Principal on Assignment • Office Hours: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm
OMSD is committed to the intellectual and emotional development of our Gifted and Talented Students.
Identification:
OMSD GATE students are identified as High Achieving Gifted Learners or Intellectual Gifted Students. In order to be identified as High Achieving Gifted Learner, third–eighth grade students must score 450 or above on both ELA and Math sections of the California Standards Test.
Students are identified as intellectually gifted when they score 85 percent or higher on the NNAT2. The NNAT 2 is a non-verbal reasoning exam. This assessment is administered to every second grader in our district. Students at any grade level can be referred by their teacher or parent for intellectual testing.
We also encourage students with specialized talents to be identified into the program. Talented students are identified in the areas of visual and/or performing arts by portfolio presentations that are reviewed by a district committee.
Program and Instruction:
OMSD ensures that our GATE program adheres to California Ed Code and State Board of Education GATE Plan GATE ED 52206: (a) The governing boards of school districts that elect to provide programs pursuant to this chapter may establish programs for gifted and talented pupils consisting of special day classes, part-time groupings, and cluster groupings, consistent with the regulations of the State Board of Education. These programs shall be planned and organized as an integrated, differentiated learning experience within the regular school day, All OMSD GATE students are in GATE cluster full day classes or GATE cluster core content classes.
GATE students in OMSD receive specialized instruction from bell to bell. The instructional program includes:
- differentiated activities related to the core curriculum; not more or extra work, but different work
- independent study, acceleration, flexible grouping, learning centers and enrichment
- Depth and Complexity, Dr. Sandra Kaplan
Professional Development:
All teachers of GATE students have received professional development in addressing the needs of these learners through differentiated instruction. This instruction includes the use of Depth and Complexity, independent study, compacting, acceleration and learning centers. In addition to the training, teachers participate in monthly Professional Learning Community meetings with other GATE teachers to share effective practices and develop lessons together.
Parent Involvement:
OMSD parents of GATE students are an important asset to our program. In addition to providing input through the meetings described below, each school site welcomes the involvement of parents in activities and support.
- District GATE PAC Meetings
- 3 meetings per year
- Each site selects 1 parent representative to attend
- Site based meetings
- Minimum 3 per year
- Keep sign in sheets, agendas and minutes for your records
- All GATE parents at the site are invited
- Parent representative from PAC should present information from PAC meetings
