PHILOSOPHY/MISSION OF GIFTED AND TALENTED
A brief statement of philosophy or mission is essential because everyone – parents, teachers, administrators, school board members – will want to know the reasons for the program and why it is necessary. According to dictionary.com, philosophy is “a system of principles for guidance in practical affairs.” So a statement of philosophy/mission answers the questions, “What is our purpose?” or “Why do we exist?” A clear statement of purpose will create cohesiveness, commitment, and understanding. It makes our work more meaningful and allows us to do a better job of choosing how we will work and what work we will choose to do.
Sample Statements of Program Philosophy and/or Mission
1. The Bloomington Public Schools Gifted and Talented Programs serve gifted, talented and creative children of both genders and all cultural and socioeconomic groups in Kindergarten through Grade 12. Gifted, talented and creative children have the potential to perform at remarkably high levels for their age, experience, or environment. The Gifted and Talented Programs help these students thrive by offering challenging and supportive educational experiences and services. Together, these programs and services nurture the academic, creative, artistic, leadership abilities, and social/emotional needs of gifted, talented and creative children.
(Bloomington, MN)
2. The mission of Gifted and Talented Education Programs is to provide challenging and engaging learning experiences and opportunities for growth that enable children with high potential, talent, and exceptional capacity to develop to their potential. We will work with GATE Coordinators, GATE teachers, and principals at each school to make this a reality.
(San Francisco Unified School District)
3. As a result of participating in an appropriate instructional program, students will become self-directed learners using life long learning strategies, and the students will have mastered curriculum at the level appropriate for their interests, abilities, and talents.
(Sioux City Community Schools)
4. PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION
The Harnett County Schools Board of Education firmly believes all children have potential for learning. Harnett County Schools’ goal is to cultivate this potential so that all children achieve success in their school experiences. An appropriate education for all students is the foundation on which this belief is established.
It is the philosophy of Harnett County Schools that gifted children and youth exist within all ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic groups. These gifted students are individually unique with differing abilities. Services for children who are gifted must be part of an overall educational program that supports excellence for all students; this “excellence” must include opportunities for advanced students.
Our mission is to provide a differentiated education for all gifted students recognizing individual strengths and needs. The collaborative model for gifted education provides differentiated services and individualized content modifications within the regular classroom setting based upon flexible grouping according to grade level. An appropriate staff development program will assist teachers in providing this differentiated education. Some children who are gifted may not be reaching their potential; in fact, they may not even be recognized as gifted. This may be particularly true of students with limited opportunities to learn. For these students, additional support is needed to offer opportunities for their giftedness to develop. The successful attainment of this objective necessitates cooperation among parents, schools, and communities to maximize the potential of our gifted population. Only then will our goal of adequately preparing students to meet their future be accomplished.
(Harnett Co. Schools, North Carolina)