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Entering Student Placements & GATE Eligibility

Entering Student Placements & GATE Eligibility

ELA Placement

All students, regardless of academic program, are assigned to a grade-level specific, standards-based language arts class. Some students will have the opportunity to move into an accelerated, honors program in language arts based on previous performance indicators.

If a student is new to the school or district and does not have data in any of the above mentioned categories, a placement test will be administered prior to enrollment to determine eligibility for placement in honors courses.

Mathematics Placement

All students, regardless of academic program, are assigned to a grade-level specific, standards-based mathematics class. All seventh grade students will be enrolled in Math 7, or Math Accelerated 7.  All eighth grade students will be enrolled in Math 8 or Integrated 1.  All math classes, regardless of the level are a critical bridge course between elementary mathematics and secondary mathematics. Several indicators will be used to determine placement in the appropriate math class. The goal is for all students to successfully completion of whichever math classes a student is enrolled in.  We realize that all students may not be ready for that challenge and may need an additional year to prepare for this high school graduation requirement course.  Those indicators for placement are:

  1. Quarterly Benchmark Assessments Scores
  2. Cumulative Academic Marks
  3. Math Placement Test Scores

If a student is new to the school or district and does not have data in any of the above mentioned categories, a placement test will be administered prior to enrollment to determine appropriate math placement.

GATE ELIGIBILITY

According to the California Department of Education publication of the Gifted and Talented Education Program Resource Guide…

What is the Gifted and Talented Education Program?

The California Department of Education (CDE) administers the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program, which provides funding for local educational agencies (LEAs) to develop unique education opportunities for high-achieving and underachieving pupils in the California public elementary and secondary schools. Each school district’s governing board determines the criteria it will use to identify students for participation in the GATE program. Categories for identification may include one or more of the following: intellectual, creative, specific academic, or leadership ability; high achievement; performing and visual arts talent; or any other criterion that meets the standards set forth by the State Board of Education (SBE). The GATE program is authorized under Education Code (EC) sections 52200-52212.

Morongo Unified School District Board Policy 6172 Instruction

The Governing Board believes that all students deserve an education that challenges them to meet their fullest potential. The Board shall provide gifted and talented students in grades K-12 opportunities for learning commensurate with their particular abilities and talents.

The Board shall approve a district plan for gifted and talented education (GATE) which meets criteria established by the State Board of Education for program approval.

The district's program shall be designed to provide articulated learning experiences across subjects and grade levels and shall be aligned with and extend the state academic content standards and curriculum frameworks.

Identification of Gifted and Talented Students

Students may be identified for the GATE program on the basis of demonstrated or potential abilities in any one or more of the following categories: (Education Code 52202; 5 CCR 3822)

  1. Intellectual Ability: The student demonstrates extraordinary or potential for extraordinary intellectual development.
  2. Creative Ability: The student characteristically perceives unusual relationships among aspects of the student's environment and among ideas, overcomes obstacles to thinking and doing, and/or produces unique solutions to problems.
  3. Specific Academic Ability: The student functions at highly advanced academic levels in particular subject areas.
  4. Leadership Ability: The student displays the characteristic behaviors necessary for extraordinary leadership.
  5. High Achievement: The student consistently produces advanced ideas and products and/or attains exceptionally high scores on achievement tests.
  6. Performing and Visual Arts Talent: The student originates, performs, produces, or responds at extraordinarily high levels in the arts.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Jason Schmit, our site GATE advisor at the Below email or call (760) 367-9507.

Questions? Please Contact...

Name/Title
Email
Jason Schmit
Science Teacher / Project Lead The Way
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