Announcements

Professional Development Opportunities

For FY2011, the Gifted/Talented Training Grant funding and the Advanced Opportunities funding will be included in a large pool of discretionary money. No funds will be directed by the State Department through a funding formula. This gives each district or charter flexibility in spending these dollars. The funding from the discretionary fund may be expended for gifted training. Funding from the FY2010 GT Training Grant and Advanced Opportunities Grant will be available until June 30, 2010. After June 30, 2010, any carry-over money from the grants will be placed in district discretionary funding.

Additional Funding for Professional Development:

  • Charter schools should contact Michelle Clement Taylor for information on additional funding for professional development.
  • LEAs can elect to use up to 15% of their special education funds to provide Comprehensive Early Intervening Services to benefit at-risk students who have not yet been identified for special education. Use of funds must be directly tied to those at-risk students by name so they can be tracked for 3 years to see how many end up in special education.
  • Special Education ARRA funding for serving at-risk students can be used.
  • Title 1-A School Improvement funds set-aside funds for professional development can be used to send personnel to training opportunities.

Professional Development

Edufest July 24-29, 2011 Link
Council for Exceptional Children www.idahocec.org October 6-8, 2010

General education teachers are encouraged to attend these professional development opportunities. Teachers are working with a whole range of students in their classrooms. Training offers teachers the opportunities to learn how to provide services for students on all tiers. In spite of hard economic times, we still have an obligation to provide the best professional development for teachers. Your district may have teachers who are working on their GT endorsements. The professional development listed above provides opportunities for teachers to earn needed credits.

Advanced Placement Test Fee Reduction Grant

The Idaho State Department of Education will be assisting districts by paying for AP/IB exams for low-income students. Attached are two forms:

Checklist for AP/IB Coordinators and Eligibility Assurance Form
This checklist should be filled out and returned to the Idaho State Department of Education by all AP/IB Coordinators whose schools are participating in the AP Test Fee Reduction Program.

Income Determination Waiver
This waiver may be used to determine income of families of students who have not applied for the free and reduced lunch program If a family qualifies under the guidelines, the student will be eligible for the AP Test Fee Reduction Program.

The College Board will provide information on AP Central, the AP program's online resource found at www.apcentral.collegeboard.com. Once again, registration will be online.

The State of Idaho will pay $56 per AP/IB Exam for public and private school students qualifying for the College Board fee reduction. The final AP fee for qualifying students is $0. Therefore, AP exams are provided at no cost to students.

What the school must do for AP exams:

  • Fill in "Option 1" oval on qualifying students' AP exam answer sheets.
  • When generating the invoice online, enter the total number of exams (not students) that qualify for the fee reduction.
  • The school will assume the $8.00 local fee waiver and will not charge students the returned test fee.
  • AP coordinators in Idaho will forgo collection of AP exam fees from students qualifying for the College Board fee reduction. The AP coordinator must submit the following to the State:
    1. A copy of the invoice to the State.
    2. A signed Checklist for AP/IB Coordinators and Eligibility Assurance Form
  • The College Board will bill the State directly for qualifying students' AP Exam fees.

Send a copy of the invoice and the Checklist for AP/IB Coordinators and Eligibility Assurance Form to:

Dr. Peggy Wenner
G/T Coordinator
Idaho State Department of Education
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0027

For IB exams, please contact Dr. Schorzman at (208) 332-6949 or pjwenner@sde.idaho.gov for further information.

G/T Endorsement Opportunities

Teachers wanting to work on their G/T Endorsement have more opportunities than ever!

First of all, Edufest provides a wonderful opportunity to complete any of the required Endorsement classes or electives. Go to www.edufest.org Link for further information.

In addition, G/T courses are available online through Boise State, Northwest Nazarene University, University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College.

The University of Idaho offers the G/T Endorsement through online graduate courses.. For more information please contact Dr. Paul Gathercoal by e-mail: gatherco@uidaho.edu

For information on online courses from Boise State University or Northwest Nazarene, please contact Jo Henderson at johender@gmail.com or the universities' websites www.boisestate.edu Link and www.nnu.edu Link.

For information on Lewis-Clark State College offerings, please contact Dr. Wayne Carroll at 208-792-2487.

G/T Endorsement Opportunities and Information

PDF Icon Endorsement Checklist
PDF Icon Endorsement Coursework
PDF Icon G/T Practicum Credit Protocol
Word Icon G/T Endorsement Opportunities
Word Icon Frequently Asked Questions
PDF Icon Resources for the Identification of Gifted Students We are offering a complimentary copy of Gifted Education Press Quarterly.
PDF Icon Duke TIP Launches FREE Online Newsletter for Parents of Gifted Youth
Twice Exceptional Newsletter
Word Icon Findings from William and Mary G/T Study
Concurrent Credit Program

The concurrent credit at Idaho public and private universities are designed to enrich the opportunities of pre-college students who have demonstrated high academic ability. The following chart is a summary of dual credit opportunities and policies for Idaho Institutes of Higher Education.

Word Icon Summary of Dual Credit in Idaho Institutes of Higher Education
PDF Icon Idaho-Dual Credit-WebBro Link
The Davidson Academy of Nevada for Profoundly Gifted Students

Applications Available for 2010-2011 School Year

A free, public school for profoundly gifted pupils located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, The Davidson Academy of Nevada is seeking qualified students to apply for the 2010-2011 school year. The mission of The Davidson Academy is to provide profoundly gifted young people an advanced educational opportunity matched to their abilities, strengths and interests. The Academy is a non-residential, full-time day school and many families have relocated to Reno in order for their student(s) to attend. To be eligible to attend The Davidson Academy, students must be at the middle or high school level across all subject areas and score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ or college entrance tests, such as the SAT or ACT. The Academy is specifically designed to meet the needs of profoundly gifted middle and high school students who perform at an academic level of advanced middle school or higher in all subjects. For admissions details, please visit www.DavidsonAcademy.UNR.edu/Admissions. A personalized learning plan for each student will enable the teachers to guide students through the appropriate level and pace of each subject area. Academy students can proceed through the required middle and high school curriculum at a pace appropriate to their abilities and motivation. Davidson Academy students have the opportunity to proceed through undergraduate and graduate coursework at the University of Nevada, Reno as they meet the prerequisites to do so, and students can also pursue special research projects with professors.

www.DavidsonAcademy.UNR.edu/Explore Link or email
explore@davidsonacademy.unr.edu