Gifted and Talented Services

MISSION

The purpose of gifted education in Cherry Creek Schools is to provide an education experience that results in maximizing student achievement.

PHILOSOPHY

The Cherry Creek School District believes that gifted and talented students have unique academic and affective needs. Cherry Creek administrators and teachers support a philosophy that emphasizes the need for a challenging learning environment that focuses on high achievement for every gifted and talented student. Programming for gifted and talented students must be responsive to individual needs and must recognize the multiple talents, challenges, and cultural diversity of the district's population.

The Cherry Creek School District supports research-based strategies that provide opportunities for optimal learning to ensure that gifted and talented students will perform at levels commensurate with their abilities. Gifted and talented students should be provided a dynamic, challenging educational program at every level throughout their school career.

DISTRICT BELIEF STATEMENTS

The Cherry Creek School District recognizes a set of core beliefs regarding gifted and talented students and their education as established in 2002 as part of the Gifted and Talented Strategic Plan. Those beliefs include the following:

  • While all students have academic strengths, not all students are gifted.
  • Students may be gifted and talented in one area or in multiple areas.
  • Gifted and talented students have unique and varied cognitive and affective abilities and needs.
  • Gifted and talented students appear in all populations.
  • Gifted and talented students should be provided programming which fosters maximum academic and personal growth and adequate documentation of that growth.
  • Gifted and talented students should learn in an environment where their gifts and abilities are acknowledged, valued, and nurtured.
  • Gifted and talented students should be provided appropriate and varied programming options throughout their school career.
  • Gifted and talented students require adequate support, including direct instruction, to maximize their academic potential.
  • Gifted and talented students need choice throughout their school career.
  • Early recognition of and appropriate educational responses to gifted and talented students are essential.
  • Providing appropriate programming for gifted and talented students is a responsibility shared by classroom teachers, electives teachers, gifted and talented specialists, administrators, and parents.
  • Gifted and talented students must be active participants in and share responsibility for their own learning.

In compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Colorado state law, the Cherry Creek School District No. 5 does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis race, color, ancestry, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, age, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to, treatment or employment in educational programs or activities which it operates. Complaints may be directed to the District Compliance Officer, Ms. Kathy Vining, Office of Excellence & Equity, 4700 So. Yosemite St., Greenwood Village, CO 80111, (720) 554-4536.