The Talent Development Catalyst program for gifted services is based on consultation and collaboration between the talent development and classroom teachers. They work together to meet the needs of the high achieving students. Sometimes the TD teacher works with a whole group or a small group in the child's classroom or provides the classroom teacher with work for the higher achieving students; at other times the TD teacher can pull out students to work with them directly.
Elementary students in CMS are identified when they demonstrate extraordinary problem solving or aptitude in a combination of areas including intellectual, academic, leadership, artistic, creativity, language arts, and math. The majority of identification takes place in the second grade; however, there are additional screenings on an as-needed basis. To grow academically, identified students have clear or extreme strengths that require differentiated curriculum.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools use a variety of instruments to identify second grade students. These include Standardized Testing (the Cognitive Abilities Test, and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills), a Gifted Rating Scale assessment, and a student-created portfolio. Students in grades three through twelve may be referred to the Talent Development School-Based Committee to approve or deny, based on documented student strengths. In order to be identified, an accumulation of 12 points on the Talent Development Identification Rubric must be accumulated.
Elementary students who are identified as gifted have two instructional choices within CMS. The first choice is the Elementary (K-5) Catalyst model within the home school. In this model, implementation of the program is a joint effort by the classroom teachers and the Talent Development (TD) teachers who use the technique of "consultation and collaboration" as they develop curriculum and participate in professional development. The Catalyst model allows the classroom and TD teachers to design and implement frequent differentiated educational experiences for gifted children.
The second instructional choice is attending one of the academic magnet centers that offer full-time gifted classrooms for students in grades 3-5. These schools offer an enriched, accelerated academic program where students are challenged to reach their full potential. Placement is available during the annual CMS magnet school lottery. Students in these schools are guaranteed placement in the Middle Years International Baccalaureate Program. For additional information on each of the magnet schools, please visit the Annual Magnet School Information Fair. You can also contact The Family Application Center or The Magnet Office for specific application information.
CMS also offers Horizons, a program for highly gifted students in grades K through 12 whose academic needs require differentiation and acceleration two years beyond their gifted peers. Please click on the link to the Horizons program or contact the Talent Development and Advanced Studies office for information about this program.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools use a variety of instruments to identify second grade students. These include Standardized Testing (the Cognitive Abilities Test, and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills), a Gifted Rating Scale assessment, and a student-created portfolio. Students in grades three through twelve may be referred to the Talent Development School-Based Committee to approve or deny, based on documented student strengths. In order to be identified, an accumulation of 12 points on the Talent Development Identification Rubric must be accumulated.
Elementary students who are identified as gifted have two instructional choices within CMS. The first choice is the Elementary (K-5) Catalyst model within the home school. In this model, implementation of the program is a joint effort by the classroom teachers and the Talent Development (TD) teachers who use the technique of "consultation and collaboration" as they develop curriculum and participate in professional development. The Catalyst model allows the classroom and TD teachers to design and implement frequent differentiated educational experiences for gifted children.
The second instructional choice is attending one of the academic magnet centers that offer full-time gifted classrooms for students in grades 3-5. These schools offer an enriched, accelerated academic program where students are challenged to reach their full potential. Placement is available during the annual CMS magnet school lottery. Students in these schools are guaranteed placement in the Middle Years International Baccalaureate Program. For additional information on each of the magnet schools, please visit the Annual Magnet School Information Fair. You can also contact The Family Application Center or The Magnet Office for specific application information.
CMS also offers Horizons, a program for highly gifted students in grades K through 12 whose academic needs require differentiation and acceleration two years beyond their gifted peers. Please click on the link to the Horizons program or contact the Talent Development and Advanced Studies office for information about this program.