All students in K-2 will receive a bi-weekly critical-thinking lesson from the GRT (Gifted Resource Teacher).
These lessons are not graded, but rather offered as a way to strengthen one's critical thinking abilities. 
The GT curriculum is problem-solving based and founded upon gifted education research.  The curriculum spirals developmentally through five components:  reasoning, perceiving, connecting, evaluating, and creating.  Each grade level learns about each component at increasingly more complex and abstract levels. 

3rd Gifted Program (SEARCH)

• All third graders receive GT lessons on a bi-weekly basis.
  TALENT DEVELOPMENT lessons are presented which provide students with exposure to the types of tasks that are included in the gifted portfolio assessments.

• GIFTED PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENTS are taught during GT lessons and collected. These portfolio pieces are used in the third grade evaluation in spring.

• The COGNITIVE ABILITIES TEST is administered in the fall/spring by the classroom teacher. All information about the CogAT will be shared by your child's teacher. The GT Department uses the scores for the third grade evaluation in the spring.

• MAP (Math and Reading) Fall/Spring assessments will be administered by the classroom teacher. All information about the MAP tests will be shared by your child's teacher. The GT Department uses the scores for the third grade evaluation in the spring.

• GIFTED EVALUATION takes place in the spring of 3rd grade. The student's MAP, CogAT, and Portfolio are then evaluated by a committee. Notification of eligibility status will be sent in late May or June by the LCPS Gifted Supervisor, Wendy King. 

4-5 Gifted Programs (FUSION)

• General Intellectual Ability (GIA)  identified students will participate in a critical thinking program for two hours a week. They will also receive one lesson of DCI Math and DCI Reading per week. (This program was previously known as FUTURA.)

• Differentiated Classroom Instruction (DCI) Math identified students participate in one lesson a week in an intensive math course. Students identified for this program demonstrated strong mathematical skills in both the MAP and CogAT.

• Differentiated Classroom Instruction (DCI) Reading identified students participate in one lesson a week in an intensive reading course. Students identified for this program demonstrated strong ELA (English/Language Art) skills in both the MAP and CogAT. 

EDGE program  (Empowering Diversity through Gifted Education)

The EDGE program is designed to nurture and challenge students with advanced academic potential from groups historically underrepresented in LCPS advanced academic and gifted programs. The program provides additional academic challenges for students designed to develop students' individual potential. Classroom teachers and GRTs work together to nurture academic potential in our younger learners and prepare them for more challenging and rigorous academic pathways.