Choose one of the Nashville Gifted Education Programs

that challenges your gifted child's abilities.

Scholars Program - Nashville Gifted Education Programs

(Grades 9-12) Requires students to complete four credits in English, three in math, three in science, three in social studies, two in foreign language, and two in visual or performing arts. English and social studies credits must be earned in advanced placement or honors classes. Students in this program are recognized with a Distinguished Scholar diploma (93-100 GPA) or Academic Honors diploma (85-92 GPA).

Scholar Program choices in Metro Nashville (Davidson County) Public Schools (MNPS):

How many schools are involved? Why?

Before deciding against one of these schools, parents should talk to the principal. Many of these schools missed a level of good standing because they missed one or two of the 38 possible benchmarks. The choice to stay or move to another school follows the required annual evaluation by the State of Tennessee Department of Education under the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.

The most recent evaluation found some schools had not reached goals set the previous years and must now offer parents the choice of keeping their child in that school or moving to another. What parents should do if parents in any of these schools decide to move their children, they must choose a new school and submit an application for changing enrollment typically by the end of October.

Parents will be notified which school their child has been accepted to attend, and they will have a certain amount of time to accept that choice. Students will then be enrolled and expected to attend classes.

Parents at the schools may choose to leave their children in the current school or move to one of two schools nearby. Those staying in the current school may be eligible for tutoring services. In some cases, English Language Learners (ELL) may have only one school choice to ensure a continuation of services.

Things to think about before making a choice. Some key factors parents and students should consider in deciding whether to move or stay:

• Students in the affected schools are eligible for choice if they live in the school's attendance zone or the students are assigned to attend this school by the district.
• Transportation to and from the new school is provided free as long as the current school does not meet NCLB Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards. If the current school meets AYP standards in two years, transportation to the new school will not be provided.
• If a parent moves out of the school's attendance zone, free transportation will not be provided.
• If a parent has two children in the current school and wishes both children to be moved, Metro Nashville Public Schools may not be able to place both children in the same school.
• Parents of transferring students in grades seven and eight should call the MNPS athletics office to determine if the move will affect a child's eligibility to participate in sports.
• Students must maintain satisfactory attendance, good behavior and grades to remain at the school of choice.
• MNPS will give priority to the lowest-achieving students from low-income families.

Enhanced Option Elementary Schools

ENCORE Program - Nashville Gifted Education Programs

Intellectually gifted and academically talented students are those whose intellectual abilities and potential for achievement are so outstanding that they need special attention in a gifted education program to meet their educational needs.

The ENCORE Program is designed to assist these students by providing a curriculum that challenges them and encourages them to be responsible, resourceful and productive throughout their lives.

The ENCORE Program serves children age three through grade six. ENCORE classes meet one-half day each week in local schools (grades K-2) or in an ENCORE center (grades 3-6).

Since ENCORE is an optional program in Metro Schools, parents provide transportation to ENCORE classes when necessary.

Characteristics of an Intellectually Gifted Child:

• displays a great curiosity about objects, situations or events
• wants to know the "how" and "why"
• has an exceptional memory
• shows a keen sense of observation about human interaction
• displays a sensitivity to the feelings of others
• observes details
• Shows a keen sense of humor
• displays an early tendency to do things alone

When you recognize some of these traits in your child or other academic students you know, contact the child's school and inquire about having him or her assessed for advanced academic talent and possible participation in a gifted education program.

Parents, guardians, pediatricians, child care professionals, certified school personnel and students themselves may make referrals for assessment for ENCORE. Students may be referred to the local school support team or directly to the ENCORE office for assessment consideration and chance to participate in one of the Nashville gifted education programs.

Eligibility is determined based on demonstration of advanced classroom performance, superior results on a national-normed achievement test, and evidence of higher-level thinking as measured by assessment of abstract reasoning and logical thinking.

Information about gifted education programs in general is available on the Internet under the heading "gifted education." Persons with questions or concerns about assessment should call the Metro Schools Customer Service Center at 615-259-INFO.

I hope this overview of Nashville Gifted Education programs was helpful in better understanding the gifted education options within the Metro Nashville public school system in Davidson County.