Gifted and Talented Task Force seeking community's input

(Published Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006 in Examiner-Enterprise)

In order to make the Bartlesville Public School District 's gifted and talented program the best in Oklahoma, we have initiated a task force to examine the program and provide recommendations.

The task force began its work in September and has since been examining the program. Soon, they will offer recommendations on ways in which we might be able to improve. The task force is comprised of parents, classroom teachers, gifted and talented teachers, building administrators, central office administrators and school board members.

Through the work of the task force, we eventually hope to have a gifted and talented program which can serve as a model throughout Oklahoma.

Among the subjects which feature AP classes are math, English, science, social studies, foreign languages, music and art.

At the elementary school level, our Kaleidoscope Program – which caters to all elementary gifted and talented students in the district – is located at both Hoover and Wayside. Through that program, students who have been selected as gifted are able to take special courses twice a week.

Of the approximately 6,000 students who are enrolled in the Bartlesville Public School District, about 1,500 of them have been determined to be gifted in at least one area of study. Teachers and parents can refer students who they feel might be gifted. Once the referral has been made, the students are tested. Students who score in the top three percent on the state standardized test are automatically qualified for the gifted and talented program. Through testing, some students prove they are gifted in one or more particular subject area.

In the Bartlesville Public School District, we pride ourselves on providing the best possible learning environment for students at all levels.

Twenty-one people sit on the Gifted and Talented Task Force, which was initiated in August. Meetings are held weekly. The full committee meets every other week, and during those weeks in which it isn't gathering, subcommittees convene. The Gifted and Talented Task Force is divided into three subcommittees which feature seven people apiece. Each subcommittee concentrates on one particular area of focus.

In the Bartlesville Public School District, gifted and talented programs are available for students beginning in the second grade. But some students are tested as early as their kindergarten year to determine if they are gifted.

At the secondary school level, we eventually hope to have most of our teachers trained in AP teaching techniques while also expanding the number of courses offered.

Though there is no defined schedule for when the task force will complete its work, the hope is for it to be done in the next few months. When the task force completes its work, it will present its findings to the Board of Education.

While the task force is still ongoing, it welcomes input from the community. Thus, we have established a mail box on our district web site – www.bps-ok.org – through which we will take suggestions and pass them on to the task force. The link – which sends emails to GiftedTalented@bps-ok.org – can be found on the main page of the district web site. Patrons often have insightful opinions about various facets of education, including a gifted and talented program. This is a good opportunity to be heard.

While examining how our own gifted and talented program is set up, the task force has taken a look at those of other schools as well. Members have also taken part in video conferences at the Oklahoma Department of Education's Gifted and Talented Division.

In the Bartlesville Public School District , we are constantly seeking ways to provide the best possible education for all of our students. Thus, while we feel we have much to offer, we are vigilant in our desire to be ever improving.

I think the dedicated work of the Gifted and Talented Task Force will help us make what is already a good program even better. I invite those who have interest in aiding the gifted and talented program to offer their insight via the link on our district web site.