Gifted and Talented Education Program (G.A.T.E.)
Federal Way Public Schools believes that students who show attributes of giftedness deserve a differentiated learning environment. The categories in which we define giftedness are supported by research from a variety of experts. They are: spatial/artistic, accelerated, cognitive/problem solving, under achieving gifted, and leadership.
Federal Way Public Schools concurs with the rich research regarding the multitudes of children of poverty and cultural diversity who are unidentified as potentially gifted learners. To this end we have a program in each of our elementary schools to provide the best possible environment for identification and school and family support.
Federal Way Public Schools is a standards based instructional district. All students in the gifted program create portfolios in reading, writing, and math to provide evidence of meeting the state Essential Learning Requirements. This portfolio also provides the basis for students to understand and communicate where they are on the learning continuum and creates a differentiated learning program for each student.
The program provides creative/accelerated/cognitive enrichment in reading, writing, and math. Students are encouraged to engage in a process and curriculum that enhances their gifts. In order for this to be effective teachers need to know students well. Therefore, Federal Way Public Schools provides a multiage program in grades 3, 4, and 5.
GATE Placement 2009-2010
New-to-District Students
Parents and guardians please contact the principal of your service area elementary school. Placement for the grade 3/4/5 gifted program is done at the schools and not through the district office.
To assist the process, please have the following information:
- Copy of most recent standardized assessment scores
- Teacher recommendation
- Student work samples
For Middle School self-select Pre-AP classes and High School Pre-AP and AP classes, please contact the counseling department of your service area school. Inquires about the International Baccalaureate (IB) program may be directed to Carol Lee, Thomas Jefferson High School, at 253-945-5623. For the Cambridge Preparatory Program at Federal Way High School, see contact information on their webpage. For the middle school Cambridge CheckPoint Preparatory Program, visit Lakota or Sacajawea Middle schools.
G.A.T.E Resources |
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| Teacher Contact Information | ||
| G.A.T.E Online Resource Links | ||
| • Middle School and High School | G.A.T.E Online Brochure (427K PDF) | |
G.A.T.E. classrooms
As of the 2004–2005 school year, each of the 23 elementary schools in Federal Way has a full-time, self-contained G.A.T.E. classroom. With G.A.T.E. in every school, participating students stay closer to home, ride the same bus as their neighbors and remain a part of the neighborhood community.
Classroom configuration
G.A.T.E. classrooms are multi-age and include third, fourth, and fifth graders. This configuration was pilot-tested at two schools in 2003-2004, and a thorough mid-year review demonstrated many areas of success. Multi-age classrooms allow teachers flexibility in student grouping, and there are substantial benefits to the students that come from cross-age interactions.
Our G.A.T.E. teachers have been well prepared for the challenges of multi-age classrooms with special staff development emphasizing multi-age and culturally competent teaching strategies.
Ways of identifying gifted and talented students
Relying on test scores alone often overlooks complex qualities that are hard to measure, and fails to identify many students with special abilities. These include students with organizational or leadership skills, strong communication abilities and artistic talent, as well as “gifted underachievers.”
The tools FWPS uses to identify students as gifted and talented reflect the most current research. The traits (see text in blue panel) are part of the Developmentally Accelerated Skills Inventory (DASI) that guides teachers through the evaluation of each student, noting the diverse ways in which children show their talents. It includes specific characteristics of giftedness and many cues for recognizing them in different children.
The DASI, along with district and state assessments and student portfolios, is part of the identification process.
Nomination forms for parents, guardians and community members, which list characteristics to look for in a gifted child, are available in English, Korean, Spanish and Russian. Ask for it at your school, or download it from the web (7K PDF).
Following nomination, final placement decisions will be made at each school by the end of the school year. With the broader, more inclusive criteria for G.A.T.E. placement, we believe our classrooms better reflect the economic, cultural and racial composition of our district. This includes students with many kinds of gifts that enrich the experience for all.
Target Areas of Giftedness for G.A.T.E. Assessment
Original Thought: The student demonstrates a wide variety and quantity of oral/dramatic, written or artistic expressions which are founded on unusual and unique ideas.
Prediction: The student is able to list many possible causes of given situations or problems. From the list of causes, the student is able to predict the many different effects.
Planning: The student is able to use details to explain what he wants to do. He/she is sensitive to problems and demonstrates skills at organizing materials, time and resources necessary to carry out his/her project. The student is able to sequence steps toward completion.
Decision Making: The student outlines many alternatives to a problem. He/she weighs each alternative and considers the effect it may have on others. The student makes a final judgment from among the alternatives and is able to accurately defend the decision.
Social: The student acts responsibly and with self-confidence in both his/her work and interpersonal life. The student’s ideas and actions tend to influence others.
Expressions: The student effectively communicates in a written or oral manner or in an artistic/ physical manner. Such expressions are produced by making comparisons among things or by showing relationships.
Learning and Academics: The student demonstrates superior intellectual and achievement abilities. The student’s work shows mastery of information and personal meaningfulness.
Multiple Intelligence Behaviors
In our G.A.T.E. classrooms, students receive instruction and opportunities to practice these behaviors of successful, intelligent learners.
Attending — Focus on task at hand; is not easily distracted
Persistence — Keeps on trying; does not give up easily
Deliberateness — Show less impulsivity; thinks before acting
Flexibility — Open to alternatives; sees many possibilities
Precision — Uses words carefully; checks for accuracy; attends to detail
Inquisitiveness — Asks questions; enjoys problem solving; is curious
Fluency — Can generate many ideas Originality — Enjoys making and doing original things
Metacognition — Puts into words his/her own thinking; self-reflects
Empathy — Listens to others with sensitivity and understanding
Risking — Willing to take on new challenges; not afraid
Elaboration — Builds on the thinking of other people
Opportunities in Secondary School
Federal Way Public Schools are committed to providing academic challenges to students through the elementary G.A.T.E. program, and through a variety of programs in our secondary schools:
At the middle school level, students can self-select Pre-Advanced Placement classes, and may also apply for the Cambridge Checkpoint program at Lakota or Sacajawea middle schools or to Federal Way Public Academy, a small school for 6-10th grade students focused on academics. This fall, 2008, the TAF Academy, a unique partnership between Federal Way schools and the Technology Access Foundation, will open on the Totem Middle School campus. TAF Academy is built around a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math focused curriculum.
At our high schools, a variety of options are in place. Pre-Advanced Placement (pre A.P.) and A.P. classes – college level classes for which students can test and earn college credit -- are in place at Decatur, Federal Way, and Todd Beamer High Schools. In addition, FWHS offers the Cambridge Academy, a rigorous four-year course of study. Thomas Jefferson High School has Pre- International Baccalaureate (Pre-I.B.) and I.B. courses as well.
Federal Way students may also attend and earn credit for college level classes -- tuition-free -- by participating in the Running Start program at a local community college.