Fayette County Public Schools

Skip to main content
Mobile Menu
**Vision Statement: Every Student, Everyday, In Every Way**Mission Statement: Inspire, Hope, and Improve Student Outcomes for a Successful Future.**Core Values: Family, Collaboration, Perseverance. Service.**
Search | Login
Special Education » Intellectually Gifted

Intellectually Gifted

gifted planTennessee Definition of Intellectually Gifted

“Intellectually Gifted” means a child whose intellectual abilities, creativity, and potential for achievement are so outstanding that the child’s needs exceed differentiated general education programming, adversely affect educational performance, and require specifically designed instruction or support services. Children from all populations (e.g., all cultural, racial, and ethnic groups, English Learners, all economic strata, twice-exceptional, etc.) can be found to possess these abilities.

Gifted Education occurs on a continuum in the District, ranging from enriched academics in the classroom setting to separate instruction in the gifted classroom. Gifted education provides students with the opportunity to work with peers who share their intellectual abilities, enhancing their social skills. Gifted students can form meaningful relationships with peers who understand their unique perspectives, interests, and abilities. Identified Intellectually Gifted students receive up to four hours of instruction per week in the gifted classroom, participating in advanced academic studies across all disciplines. This comprehensive approach provides students with the resources and support they need to thrive, preparing them to become future leaders and innovators.
 
Gifted services
 
Most elementary students receiving Gifted services will be pulled out of the General Education Classroom for Advanced Academic Instruction in the Gifted Classroom setting one day per week.  Middle Students often receive Advanced Academic Instruction one class period per day in the Gifted Education Classroom; however, that can vary depending on the individual needs of the student. High School students can receive Advanced Academic Instruction through honors and/or Advanced Placement (AP) courses, participation in the Decathlon, and participation in the Pentathlon. The student's progress will be monitored through the Direct Consultative Model which will include monitoring academic progress (grades, test scores, etc.), providing suggestions for modifications to ensure student success, discussing individual student needs with teachers, and/or providing information to teachers regarding the unique needs of gifted students. Another option is for the student to receive services in the Gifted Classroom. All services are individualized based on student needs and are determined by the IEP team. 
 

 

Gifted Referral Process
 

 

The process for identifying gifted students begins when a student is referred for the program by direct referrals from a teacher, administrator, or parent or through the use of one of the following universal screeners: TCAP, iReady, or MVP Benchmark.  All Fayette County second-grade students who are performing at 90% or above in an academic area are reviewed by a screening team to determine who would benefit from enriched academic instruction to ensure that every student is given an equal opportunity to be observed and considered as a potentially gifted student. Currently, students in grades 3rd – 10th are being served, reviewed each quarter, and can be referred anytime throughout the school year.  We will expand the grades served by adding the second-grade beginning in August 2025; followed by First and Eleventh in 2026, then PreK/K and Twelfth grade in 2027. 

 

flowchart

 

For more information about the Gifted Program, contact Ashley Gillard [email protected] or Michele Stuber [email protected]

🎄 FCPS Gifted Program Recognized at Festival of Trees 🎄

 

Students in the Fayette County Public Schools Gifted Program representing Buckley-Carpenter Elementary School, LaGrange-Moscow Elementary School, Oakland Elementary School, and Southwest Elementary School participated in the Festival of Trees at Reach360 Church, sharing their creativity and holiday spirit with the community. Among the school entries, the LaGrange-Moscow Elementary School tree was voted Best School Tree, earning special recognition during the event.

 

The Festival of Trees brought families and community members together in support of the Carl Perkins Center, highlighting the talents of students while celebrating the season of giving. FCPS gifted students proudly represented their schools and district, demonstrating teamwork, creativity, and community involvement.

 

Images from the Festival of Trees can be found here.