More News

A plan that gives elementary school students accelerated instruction without labeling them as "gifted and talented" is getting positive reviews from the principals who piloted the initiative.

Burning Tree Elementary School in Bethesda and Georgian Forest Elementary School in Silver Spring are participating in a pilot program in which the schools' second-graders are tested to see if they qualify for accelerated and enriched instruction.

However, instead of labeling those students who score well as "gifted and talented," they are placed in accelerated classes that tailor to their strengths.

School system officials propose making that the norm in every school.

Sharon W. Cox, a former school board member, said she introduced the motion to revise the gifted-and-talented policy after the black community questioned the way services were being provided and whether the labeling was a hindrance.

"We needed to ensure all children were getting the services and supports to fully develop their potential," said Cox, who was chairwoman of the Policy Committee which requested that the school system look into its gifted-and-talented curriculum.

Some parents have argued that students who aren't given the label take less-rigorous classes later in their academic careers. Other parents say students identified as "gifted" should be grouped in separate classes with other gifted students.

Under current school system policy, all second-graders are tested for accelerated instruction; if they score well, they are given a general "gifted" designation and accelerated coursework. In some instances, teachers and school staff can recommend students for accelerated instruction.

"We don't feel a child needs to be labeled to get the instruction they need," Nancy L. Erdrich, principal of Burning Tree Elementary, told The Gazette on Tuesday. "The ‘no label' pilot hasn't affected instruction at all. It's not whether a child is labeled ‘gifted and talented,' it's about getting the children the services they need."

Erdrich, along with Georgian Forest Principal Aara L. Davis-Jones, will meet Tuesday with the school board's Policy Committee, which is considering the revisions to the gifted-and-talented policy. During the meeting, the two principals will update the committee on the success of the "no label" pilot at their schools.

At Burning Tree, Erdrich said, each of the school's 513 students is getting some form of accelerated instruction. For example, she said, many of the school's fifth-graders are taking sixth- and seventh-grade math.

At Georgian Forest, there have been "no issues or concerns whatsoever" from parents about the school dropping the label, Jones said Tuesday. Roughly 200 Georgian Forest students are in accelerated classes, including the 54 percent of fifth-graders taking sixth-grade math, she said.

"We have so many opportunities for students to shine, so the label becomes irrelevant," Jones said.

For Cox, one reason stands out as to why so much hoopla has surrounded talk of the policy revision.

"The board hasn't established the direction the system needs to go in," she said. School staffers, she added, are "trying to say what the policy should look like, without having the direction from the board."

School board Vice President Patricia B. O'Neill disagreed, calling Cox's statement "sour grapes." O'Neill said Cox had asked the system to look into the gifted policy years ago, but "nothing got done."

O'Neill said she will push for a comment period of at least 60 days on the gifted-and-talented revision. Such proposals typically are available at least 21 days for public comment.

The plan must be approved by the committee before going to the full board for a vote, which isn't expected until the fall.