Baldwin County Schools Gifted Program
110 North ABC Street
Milledgeville, GA 31061
478.453.4176
Program Overview
The Georgia State Board of Education defines a gifted student as a student who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual and/or creative ability(ies), exhibits an exceptionally high degree of motivation, and/or excels in specific academic fields, and who needs special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his or her abilities.
All Baldwin County Schools serve identified gifted students. The gifted program provides diverse, high-quality opportunities for these students and recognizes the benefit of interaction with their intellectual peers. The teachers of the gifted are experienced professionals who have met the State of Georgia’s requirements for certification in Gifted Education. The gifted program is funded by the state.
Student Eligibility Requirements
Students in Baldwin County may be nominated for the gifted program in several ways. Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on the nationally normed test (ITBS) given in the fall are automatically nominated to be screened for referral. The ITBS is given in grades 3, 5, and 8; these students are referred and tested in the late fall. Any student may be nominated for the gifted program by a teacher, parent, administrator, peer, or by himself/herself. Once a nomination is received, the gifted eligibility team at each school meets to determine the need for a referral. If a referral is made, testing for eligibility is conducted. These students are referred and tested in late spring for placement in the program the following school year. The requirements for identifying and placing students in the gifted program are governed by Georgia State Department of Education Rule 160-4-2-.38 and are consistent statewide. (Georgia Board of Education Gifted Home Page) Test scores used to establish eligibility shall be current within two years. Baldwin County's Gifted Policy
A student transferring into the Baldwin County School System who already participates in a gifted program in Georgia and is considered to be in good standing within that program will be considered for inclusion in the program. The student’s records and test data will be reviewed for eligibility before a final placement decision is made. Parents should contact the child’s previous school and request that gifted records be forwarded to the new school.
Students who transfer from out-of-state must meet Georgia requirements for placement. Test data from a previous school will be considered if the test meet Georgia eligibility criteria. A placement committee will meet, review all documentation, and determine eligibility.
Among all students there are gifted students that show potential for performing at exceptionally high levels compared to others of their age, experience, or environment. Such students exist within all ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic groups and need differentiated instruction to achieve at levels commensurate with their abilities. Baldwin County’s gifted program will make every effort to identify students in diverse populations and will be sensitive to cultural differences during the nomination, screening, and evaluation process. This will include providing parent notification forms in native languages and testing materials that are appropriate for the students’ particular needs.
Personnel
Personnel working full time as teachers of the gifted must hold a professional certificate and must, prior to beginning work in the area of the gifted, meet certification requirements. These certification requirements include Gifted Education Endorsement added to a professional teaching certificate by successfully completing a program of study approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission's Rule 505-3-.21.
Gifted Records
Gifted records are maintained at local school sites and should be requested separately from other school records when students are withdrawing or transferring.
Program Description
The Baldwin County School System Gifted Program consists of three program levels – Operation Explore (OE), Advanced Content and Enrichment (ACE), and Gifted and Advanced Placement (AP). Visit the links at the top of the page for additional information regarding each program.