Gifted Resources

Kansas Definition of Gifted:

Exceptional children means persons who are children with disabilities or gifted children and are school age, to be determined in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the state board, whose age may differ from the ages of children required to attend school ...

K.S.A. 72-3404(g) [ksrevisor.gov]

Gifted children means exceptional children who are determined to be within the gifted category of exceptionality as such category is defined by the state board.

K.S.A. 72-3404(h) [ksrevisor.gov]

Gifted means performing or demonstrating the potential for performing at significantly higher levels of accomplishment in one or more academic fields due to intellectual ability, when compared to others of similar age, experience, and environment.

K.A.R. 91-40-1(bb) [sos.ks.gov]

KSDE Gifted Education Guidance and Resources Page

Core Values:

We value diversity, creativity, curiosity, diligence, honesty, caring, fairness, respectfulness, achievement, responsibility, and service to the community.

Goals and Objectives:

Develop higher-level thinking skills
Develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills
Develop research skills as applied to "real world" problems
Progress at a rate and pace appropriate to abilities and learning styles
Develop effective communication skills
Create products that are unique and synthesize major concepts
Develop self-esteem and self-understanding
Work with others of similar ability

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Derby Public Schools Gifted Program is to ensure adequate academic and social growth by providing students with enriching opportunities in and out of the classroom, deeper exploration of grade-level concepts, self-advocacy, frequent opportunities to learn something new, and reflection on themselves/others.

Gifted Services Overview

High School Services Overview

At the high school level, gifted students receive a variety of services depending on their needs. All freshmen are required to pass a transition course we call "Reality 101" and gifted students take that class together with one of the gifted teachers. They can also opt to take classes that gifted teachers are certified to teach that include enrichment activities. Gifted students also have the option to take a class called "Research" in which they design and conduct a personal project with the oversight of the gifted facilitators. This may be an extension of another class, a special interest project, a community engagement project, or skill development for greater success in other classes. Gifted students may also elect to have a gifted homeroom with other gifted students of all ages.

Middle School Overview

Gifted services at the middle school level are designed and delivered according to student needs. Students are in a class with their intellectual peers while they cover the curriculum for different classes in the communications department. Students take Middle School 101 during 6th grade, Tech and Careers during 7th grade, and Leadworthy during 8th grade. The content for these classes focuses on students’ Individual Plans of Study (IPS), where they explore their current and future interests, strengths, learning styles, and career matches. In addition to students working on a common, whole-group curriculum, they also engage in enrichment activities that encourage creativity, higher-level thinking, and address their academic needs. All gifted students have an individualized education plan (IEP) with self-directed goals that address their individual needs.

Elementary Overview

At the elementary level, gifted students receive extensions in reading and/or math tier times at least once a week based on their individual needs. During these enrichment groups they work alongside same grade level peers that have also shown high ability in reading and/or math. We utilize Continental Math League (CML) to challenge students with math problems up to two grade levels above their actual grade. For reading, we use Junior Great Books (JGB) which is a compilation of classic and modern literature. Students explore the texts through discussion, vocabulary activities, and written assignments. While CML and JGB are the foundation of the extension program, there are many other logic puzzles, visual/spatial activities, mini-projects, and brain teasers that we may do as well.

Some students also receive three 90-minute blocks of in-depth studies at a centralized location. Identified students travel from their attendance building to Stone Creek Elementary (Alcove) to work with like-minded students from all nine elementary schools. During the in-depth studies, students have the opportunity to grow socially, academically, and creatively while looking at subjects with more depth and breadth. Units have included a recyclable art project, insects, space, bridge building, World Peace Game, and more.

Identification Resources

Teaching Resources

General Information

Addressing Social-Emotional Issues in Gifted Students

Eligibility: Derby qualifies students using a two-pronged method based on the Kansas State Department’s eligibility indicators. The first prong relates to abilities and the second prong relates to the question–do they need special education services? Under prong one, the student should have a composite rank of not less than the 97th percentile on an individually administered, standardized, norm-referenced test of intellectual ability. Also under prong one, the student should have a rank of not less than the 95th percentile on national norms on a standardized, norm-referenced achievement test in one or more of the academic fields (mathematics, language arts (including reading), science, and social science). Please contact your school's administration if you have eligibility questions.

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