2464 - ADVANCED LEARNING INSTRUCTION ("GIFTED AND TALENTED")

The Board recognizes that at any grade level, students have a diverse range of learning needs, with some students requiring instruction and content above grade level standards. The Board further recognizes its responsibility to provide a strong instructional program that results in the academic and social-emotional growth of all students, including its advanced learners (“gifted and talented students”), in accordance with Wisconsin law.

Advanced learning focuses on identifying the instructional needs of students within the K-12 grade level system. Advanced learners (gifted and talented) are defined as students who give evidence of high performance capability or potential in any one (1) or more of five (5) domains: general intellectual, specific academic, leadership, creativity, and visual and performing arts. 

The Board shall direct the District Administrator to establish a plan and designate a person to coordinate advanced instruction in a systematic and continuous K-12 progression. Instructional options should be designed to match students’ learning needs in the domain(s) in which they are identified. 

IDENTIFICATION

Advanced learners (gifted and talented students) shall be identified in kindergarten through grade 12 in the five (5) domains: general intellectual, specific academic, leadership, creativity, and visual and performing arts. The identification process shall result in a student profile based on multiple indicators of student need, including but not limited to standardized test data with use of both national and local norms, rating scales or inventories, classwork, portfolios, nominations, and demonstrated performance. Identification tools shall be appropriately matched to each domain in which students are being identified. The identification process and tools shall be responsive to factors such as, but not limited to, students' economic conditions, race, gender, culture, native language, developmental differences, and identified disabilities defined in 115.76(5), Wis. Stats. 

INSTRUCTION

The District Administrator shall provide access to appropriate instruction for students identified as advanced learners (gifted or talented)  that results in their continued academic growth and development. This instruction shall be provided during the regular school day and without charge for tuition. Classroom-based, school-based, and/or District-wide advanced interventions should include evidence-based practices appropriate for the instruction of advanced learners.

Instruction for advanced learners should include opportunities both within and outside the established grade level curriculum. Such opportunities may include, but are not limited to, classroom differentiation, curriculum compacting, above-grade-level instruction, acceleration in an individual subject, full-grade acceleration, cluster grouping and flexible grouping, faster pace and greater depth of instruction, academic enrichment, concurrent enrollment at accredited institutions, and early graduation.  Opportunities outside of grade placement may require demonstration of standard mastery at a specified level through assessment and/or have prerequisite requirements.

DOCUMENTATION AND EVALUATION

Identification will be documented for each student, indicating for which domain(s) they are identified as an advanced learner and what instruction and opportunities were provided.

The District Administrator will evaluate the effectiveness of identification and programming for advanced learners through ongoing data analysis to measure both the growth of individual students and the consistent implementation of advanced learning instruction and opportunities across all K-12 schools.

Revised 3/17/25 

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