Advanced Learner Programming in the Clinton Community School District involves a partnership between classroom teachers, specialists, coordinators, school administrators, parents, and the community-at-large. They work together to meet the unique needs of students with exceptional abilities in one or more of the five following areas defined in the field of gifted education and talent development: general intelligence, academic subject areas, creativity, leadership, visual & performing arts.
“Talented children” refers to children who demonstrate high ability in intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership or specific academic areas.
All children deserve the opportunity to cultivate their potential
Some profoundly exceptional talents (in any of the 5 areas) will need services not ordinarily provided in a regular school program to fully develop their capabilities.
We need to have effective parental and community engagement
Comprehensive and systematic continuous programming and identification should be PK-12 and beyond.
An awareness and understanding of the needs of students with exceptional talent and advanced learning needs require ongoing support, resources and staff development.
Quality programming for talent development requires adequate and sustained funding
A high quality curriculum with high expectations for all students, delivered by highly qualified staff is foundational to talent development
The Clinton Community School District (CCSD) is committed to providing excellence in education for all students. The District’s mission statement, “Clinton Community School District is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment in which we connect, engage, empower, and prepare all learners to make a positive impact” brings this to light. It is with this in mind, that the district works diligently to ensure that our students who are identified as Advanced Learners have what they need to be successful.
CCSD recognizes the right of advanced learners to receive educational opportunities that will complement the level of their capabilities. Therefore, appropriate programming and services are provided to develop their particular level of ability. Advanced Learning Programming supports students in five areas: General Intellectual Ability, Specific Academic Areas, Creativity, Leadership, and Visual or Performing Arts.
The Clinton Community School District philosophy is that the majority of identified students will have their academic needs met in the general education classroom through a differentiated curriculum. This may involve modifications to the content, process and/or product. Advanced learners will remain in the general education classroom most of the time, but some may need additional resources and modifications. In special circumstances, a few students may require additional educational experiences. The programming will provide appropriate options to meet the needs of identified students.
Wisconsin Statute 118.35, Programs for gifted and talented pupils.
In this section, “gifted and talented pupils" means pupils enrolled in public schools who give evidence of high performance capability in intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership or specific academic areas and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided in a regular school program in order to fully develop such capabilities.
The state superintendent shall by rule establish guidelines for the identification of gifted and talented pupils.
Each school board shall ensure that all gifted and talented pupils enrolled in the school district have access to a program for gifted and talented pupils.
From the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (fy), the department shall award grants to nonprofit organizations, cooperative educational service agencies, institutions within the University of Wisconsin System, and school districts for the purpose of providing to gifted and talented pupils those services and activities not ordinarily provided in a regular school program that allow such pupils to fully develop their capabilities.
Administrative Rule 8.01(2)(t)2.
Each school district board shall establish a plan and designate a person to coordinate the gifted and talented program. Gifted and talented pupils shall be identified as required in s. 118.35 (1), Stats. This identification shall occur in kindergarten through grade 12 in general intellectual, specific academic, leadership, creativity, and visual and performing arts. A pupil may be identified as gifted or talented in one or more of the categories under s. 118.35 (1), Stats. The identification process shall result in a pupil profile based on multiple measures, including but not limited to standardized test data, nominations, rating scales or inventories, products, portfolios, and demonstrated performance. Identification tools shall be appropriate for the specific purpose for which they are being employed. The identification process and tools shall be responsive to factors such as, but not limited to, pupils' economic conditions, race, gender, culture, native language, developmental differences, and identified disabilities as described under subch. V of ch. 115, Stats. The school district board shall provide access, without charge for tuition, to appropriate programming for pupils identified as gifted or talented as required under ss. 118.35 (3) and 121.02 (1) (t), Stats. The school district board shall provide an opportunity for parental participation in the identification and resultant programming.
Wisconsin Statute 121.02(1)(t),
Each school board shall provide access to an appropriate program for pupils identified as gifted or talented.
The Clinton Community School District belongs to the Southern Lakes Advanced Learners Network. This organization offers student programming, staff development, and professional networking to meet the needs of advanced learners throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. Listed below are some of the offerings that CCSD has participated in over the years and is likely to take part in again in the future.
