Minnesota Department of Education Definition of Gifted and Talented,

Approved by Minnesota Department of Education, August 2005

Gifted and talented children and youth are those students with outstanding abilities, identified at preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. The potential of gifted students requires differentiated and challenging educational programs and/or services beyond those provided in the general school program. Students capable of high performance include those with demonstrated achievement or potential ability in any one or more of the following areas: general intellectual, specific academic subjects, creativity, leadership and visual and performing arts. Visit the Minnesota Department of Education, Gifted Education website.

Acceleration is an intervention that moves students through an educational program at a more rapid rate than their age-mates. The goal of acceleration is to tailor the level and complexity of the curriculum to the ability and academic readiness of individual children. The Institute for Research and Policy (IRPA) Guidelines for Developing an Academic Acceleration Policy contains an easy-to-use checklist to guide policy development. Visit the IRPA website.

A variety of enrichment and/or accelerated service opportunities are available at many SPPS elementary school sites.  Learn more about elementary school site offerings by visiting Saint Paul Public Schools Student Placement Centers website.

SPPS Elementary Programming includes the following schoolwide programs at various elementary schools across the district.

• Achievement Plus
• Arts and Culture
• Gifted and Talented Magnet (Serving Grades 1-8)
• International Baccalaureate
• Language Immersion
• Montessori
• School Wide Enrichment Model
• Science Focus