Gifted and Talented Education and The Law Compliance

Gifted and Talented Education and The Law Compliance and Advocacy NJAGC 25 th Annual Conference Power Up! Learning All Day, Every Day! April 15 & 16, 2016 Roberta Braverman, Vice President, Advocacy, NJAGC roberta. braverman@gmail. com Michael F. Kaelber, Esq. Director, Legal & Labor Relations Services mkaelber@njsba. org New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Federal Governance – G&T Federal Statutes and Regulations • Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program • ESEA, IASA, NCLB, ESSA • Title I – LEA plans on identifying and serving G&T students • Title II – Professional Development – SEA; G&T, identify and provide instruction based on needs – LEA; address learning needs of G&T students New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

State Governance – G&T New Jersey School Funding • New Jersey Constitution – T&E Clause • School Funding Reform Act of 2008 • Education Funding Report – 2/23/2012 • Educational Adequacy Report – 12/14/2012, 3/1/2016 New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

State Governance – G&T New Jersey School Funding Adequacy Budget – Local Share = Equalization Aid Base Per Pupil Amounts 2016 -2017 Elementary $ 11, 009 Middle School $ 11, 449. 36 High School $ 12, 770. 44 New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

State Governance – G&T N. J. A. C. 6 A: 8 Standards and Assessment Gifted and Talented Students who possess or demonstrate high levels of ability, in one or more content areas, when compared with their chronological peers in the local school district and who require modifications of their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities. New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

State Governance – G&T N. J. A. C. 6 A: 8 Standards and Assessment Instructional Adaptations An adjustment or modification to instruction enabling students with disabilities, ELLs, or students who are gifted and talented to participate, benefit from, and/or demonstrate knowledge and application of the CCCS. New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Core Curriculum Content Standards Board Implementation N. J. A. C. 6 A: 8 -3 • Identification G&T Students, K-12 • Multiple measures – e. g. teacher/parent recommendation, performance, testing • Provide Appropriate G&T Educational Services - K-12 New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Core Curriculum Content Standards Board Implementation N. J. A. C. 6 A: 8 -3 • Develop Curricular and Instructional Modifications to CCCS – G&T • Content, Process, Products and Learning Environment New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Core Curriculum Content Standards Board Implementation N. J. A. C. 6 A: 8 -3 • Adaptation, Differentiation, Acceleration, Enrichment, Cluster Grouping • Consideration of NAGC Standards New Jersey Commission on Programs for Gifted Students January 2005 New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Core Curriculum Content Standards Board Implementation N. J. A. C. 6 A: 8 -3 Teachers, Educational Services Staff, School Leaders • Actively Assist and Support Professional Development • Collaborative Professional Learning; Adequate and Consistent Time • Across Content Areas and Grade Levels New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Core Curriculum Content Standards Board Implementation N. J. A. C. 6 A: 8 -3 • Review and Continuous Improvement of Curriculum and Instruction • Provide Time and Resources to Develop Supportive Curricula and Instructional Tools • Modifications for G&T students New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Core Curriculum Content Standards Board Implementation N. J. A. C. 6 A: 8 -3, 6 A: 8 -5. 1 a, 2, ii • Enrollment in College Courses • Option 2 – Graduation Requirements • Public Education Alternatives. Charters, Choice, Academies • Equality in School and Classroom Practices; Bilingual New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Curriculum Frameworks Standards Support Materials • Resource to Local Districts, Classroom Teachers, Staff Developer • Differentiation, Acceleration, Enrichment, Grouping, Independent Study • 1996, 2004, 2009, 2014 New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

State Monitoring of G&T Who’s Checking on School Districts? • State Monitoring – Historical Perspective • New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum – QSAC 2012 Revisions New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Case Law – G&T • • • Charter Schools Child Custody Budgets and School Funding Gifted Disabled Students Equity – Attendance Zones New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Case Law – G&T Admission to G&T Programs • Policies and Procedures Clear • Consistent with DOE Policy on Identification • Selection Process Set Forth • Rational Basis, Correctly Applied New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Case Law – G&T Curriculum • There is no law or regulation which prescribes the substantive content of a G&T program • Appropriate Content, Process, Products and Learning Environment; K-12 • NAGC Standards - Consideration New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

G&T Teacher Certification • Instructional Certificate – no specific endorsement required • Rutgers Continuing Studies Gifted Education Certificate Program gifteded. rutgers. edu New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

G&T Student Fees • • Student Activity Fees T&E Discussion Activity Fee Statutes Case Law New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

G&T and PARCC • NJSBA FAQ • Statutes, Administrative Code, Case Law • DOE Letter to New Jersey • Proposed Legislation New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

What’s New? Common Core / G & T + Recognize and address student learning differences + Incorporate rigorous content + Apply knowledge through higher thinking skills (-) “The standards do not define the nature of advanced work for students who meet the standards prior to the end of high school. ” FAQs: http: //www. nagc. org/index 2. aspx? id=8980

Your Role to Respond to parental requests DUE PROCESS • Ask for program review cycle (show identification / public pieces for process, have names of students, be able to complete reports, have a budget, assign staff as liaisons / building level contacts) • What do you have “on the books”? Policy & Procedures, open access to student records, have “issues” procedures in place and shared / public • Compliance issues can go to county DOE (may affect future monitoring) • Can rise to Commissioner of Education New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Fifty Shades of G… What’s the difference? “school-house” v. creative/productive gifted How do we know? Various theories, tests Atypical Gifted- twice exceptional, underachiever, absent-minded professor, perfectionist, etc. Asynchronous development Services should be based on need New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Kinds of Services in Schools Academic acceleration (procedures for vertical) Enrichment (breadth & depth) Specialized counseling Modified delivery of curriculum, differentiation delineated

Research and Resources NJ Department of Education on Gifted includes FAQs http: //www. state. nj. us/education/aps/cccs/g_and_t_req. htm March is Gifted and Talented Students Month Acceleration: www. nationdeceived. org New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

NAGC Position Papers http: //www. nagc. org/positionpapers. aspx Twenty topics to use for creating services for gifted students, preparing teachers, dealing with social and emotional issues and much more! New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Parent Groups: Friends or Foes Contests Funding special events Hands on help How to? Free e-book online http: //www. nagc. org/welcomeparents. aspx New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914

Gifted and Talented Education and The Law Questions? New Jersey School Boards Association – Serving Local Boards of Education Since 1914