The Loudoun County SEARCH program, offered to all K-3 students, focuses on thinking skills and is designed to foster a classroom environment that encourages students to develop an excitement for learning and discovery. SEARCH teachers work within the classroom to stimulate curiosity, practice problem solving strategies, incorporate cooperative learning activities, provide opportunities for students to use higher level thinking skills, and to identify students with exceptional ability. 

The Loudoun County SEARCH lessons are organized under the learning keys listed below and are aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning. These lessons fulfill the goals of the LCPS Gifted Education Department which are:

1.To become divergent creative thinkers who recognize problems and solve them.

2.To construct personal meaning and understanding of others and of the world around them.

3.To develop the capacity for self assessment (ownership of the learning).

Main Topics (The Thinking Keys):

• Connecting

• Reasoning

• Creating

• Perceiving

• Evaluating

The goals of the Loudoun County Public School Gifted Department are: 

1.To become divergent creative thinkers who recognize problems and solve them.

2.To construct personal meaning and understanding of others and of the world around them.

3.To develop the capacity for self assessment (ownership of the learning).