Gifted & Talented Program

Supporting Exceptional Students at All Grade Levels

Mission Statement
The Des Moines Independent School District will systematically identify and support students with exceptional abilities or potential in the areas of advanced intellectual skills, specific ability aptitude, creative endeavors, leadership, and/or the visual and performing arts, in accordance with Iowa Code.

Departmental Philosophy
We believe gifted and talented students have unique academic and affective needs. We believe administrators and teachers should support a philosophy that acknowledges the need for and provision of a highly engaging and challenging academic learning environment for every gifted and talented student. To meet these needs individual and small group programming for gifted and talented students should be provided in every classroom and at every level of PK-12 education, and reflect the multiple talents, challenges and cultural diversity of the district’s population.  In addition, the district should support research-based continuing staff development opportunities so that all district teaching and administrative personnel may, through their teaching and educational leadership, ensure gifted and talented students learn and achieve at levels commensurate with their exceptional abilities.

Departmental Beliefs Surrounding Giftedness
Academically and/or intellectually gifted and talented students perform or show the potential to perform at substantially high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience or environment.  They require differentiated educational services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular education program.  Outstanding abilities are present in students from all cultural groups, across all economic strata and in all areas of human endeavor. A variety of settings, service options and instructional models and strategies should combine to create programming to meet the diverse needs of all gifted learners. Services should be integrated into the regular curriculum by the classroom teacher whenever possible. This approach requires support from school administrators and collaboration between general education teachers and gifted education consultants, and supports the district’s mission for equity, excellence and focus on student learning and achievement.