• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Mail
  • Parent Toolbox
  • Student Toolbox
  • Teacher Toolbox
  • VirtualPOC
  • Constitution Course
  • Board Meetings
  • Job Openings
  • Translate Site
Hall County Schools
  • HOME
  • SCHOOLS
  • CALENDAR
    • School Calendar
    • Graduation Dates
    • Open House Dates
    • Testing Dates
    • BOE Meeting Dates
  • DEPARTMENTS
    • Board of Education
      • Meet The Board
      • Email Questions
      • Balanced Scorecard
      • Board Website (Simbli)
      • Board Minutes
      • Board Meeting Dates
      • Strategic Waiver
    • Central Office
      • Who Are We?
      • Contact Central Office
      • BOE Meeting Dates
      • District Accreditation
      • Balanced Scorecard
      • Gardens on Green
      • District Annual Report
      • Fine Arts Events
    • Teaching & Learning
      • Teaching & Learning
      • High School
      • Middle School
      • Elementary School
      • eCourses
      • Special Education
      • Digital Convergence
      • CTAE Programs
    • Student Services
      • About Student Services
      • Agendas/Planning Guides
      • Student Registration
      • Code of Conduct
      • Health Services
      • School Attendance Zones
      • Student Services Staff
    • School Nutrition
      • School Nutrition
      • Free & Reduced Application
      • School Food Menus
      • School Meal Pay
      • Contact School Nutrition
    • Athletics
      • About Athletics
      • Athletic Calendar
      • Athletics Teamsites
      • Athletic Documents
      • Extreme Heat Guidelines
      • Practicing in Summer Heat
    • Technology
      • About Technology
      • AUA Documents
      • Technology Documents
      • Technology Help Desk
      • E-Learning
      • Internet Safety
      • School Logos
      • DUO
    • Finance
      • About Finance
      • Payroll
      • Purchasing
      • Budget
      • Financial Reporting
      • Travel
      • Finance Forms
      • Student Insurance
    • Facilities & Construction
      • About Facilities
      • AHERA Management Plan Notification
      • Facility Request For Improvements
      • Energy & Custodial
      • Central Warehouse
    • Transportation
      • About Transportation
      • Safety Riding and Regulations
      • Student Attendance Zones
      • Bus Eligibility
      • Transportation Forms
      • Frequently asked Questions
      • Severe Weather
    • Human Resources
      • About HR
      • HR Website
      • Employment Information
      • HR Downloads
      • Job Openings
      • Benefits System
      • Insurance Benefits
      • Employee Assistance Program
    • Media Services
      • Media Services
      • About Media Services
      • Awards & Recognitions
      • Summer Reading
      • Free WiFi Locations
      • Digital Resources
  • PROGRAMS OF CHOICE
  • REGISTRATION-TRANSFERS/WITHDRAWALS
    • Student Registration – Transfers/Withdrawals Page
    • Enrollment Requirements
    • Proof of Residency Requirements
    • Documents & Forms
    • Transfer Information
  • Submit A Safety Tip
  • Menu Menu

Hall County Schools Gifted Program

Instructional Philosophy

SearchGifted services in HCSD address state curriculum standards while providing differentiated educational opportunities based on the assessed advanced learning needs of students with gifts and talents. There is a distinct movement away from “one-size-fits-all” gifted curriculum and toward comprehensive programming options tailored to the individual student’s strengths and interests.

 Nomination Process

Nomination for consideration may be made by classroom teachers, special area teachers, counselors, administrators, parents or guardians, students’ peers, the student himself/ herself or any other responsible individual who has knowledge of a student’s intellectual ability. Individuals who wish to nominate students for consideration should contact the school’s SEARCH teacher for a nomination packet. The Eligibility Team will make the final determination on whether a student will be recommended to be tested for SEARCH based on evidence presented. Automatic referrals are based on the student’s Georgia milestones scores and/or MAP scores.

School Year 2021-2022 – Testing Timeline
Nominations submitted for grades 1-5 testing September 20th – October 6th
Testing Window for grades 1-5 November 1st through December 1st
Nominations submitted for Kindergarten February 11th – March 11th
Testing Window for Kindergarten April 11th through May 13th
Nominations may be taken at any time throughout the school year. However, if a nomination is submitted after the Eligibility Team meets for SEARCH testing referrals, the student will be looked at the following school year by school’s Eligibility Team.

DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR GIFTED SERVICES

After a referral and data have been collected in all four eligibility categories: mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motivation, an Eligibility Team will carefully review all data to make an eligibility decision. A school’s Eligibility Team is comprised of gifted endorsed teachers and administrators. In keeping with SBOE Rule 160-4-2-.38, a student must meet eligibility criteria in one of two ways: 1) qualify through a multiple-criteria assessment process by meeting criteria in any three of the four eligibility categories; or 2) score at the 99th percentile (for grades K-2) or the 96th percentile (for grades 3-12) on the composite or full scale score of a standardized test of mental ability* and meet one of the achievement criteria. (* An approved mental abilities test or an achievement test from an outside source may be accepted as part of a student’s eligibility data.)

Students who have been determined eligible for gifted education services in any public school system in Georgia will automatically be eligible for services in the Hall County School District once documentation of service in the former school district has been received.

Instructional Delivery Models

To meet the diverse needs of gifted learners, HCSD uses a variety of instructional delivery models, approved by the SBOE and described in the Georgia Department of Education Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services. Please contact your local school for specific information about available gifted education services.

Elementary Program Goals

SEARCH (Seeking Excellence and Reaching Challenging Heights) Program instruction at all levels focuses on five broad goals:

  1. Gifted students will develop advanced research skills and methods through in-depth learning of self-selected topics within the area of study;
  2. Gifted students will develop and practice creative thinking and creative problem-solving skills with a variety of complex topics within the area of study;
  3. Gifted students will develop and practice critical thinking and logical problem-solving skills in the pertinent academic area;
  4. Gifted students will develop advanced communication skills as they use a variety of techniques, materials, and formats in the development of products that will be shared with real audiences;
  5. Gifted students will develop an understanding of self and how their unique characteristics may influence interactions with others.

Contacts:

 If you have questions, please contact your school’s SEARCH teacher.

You may also contact:

  • Laurie Ecke, Director of Innovative and Advanced Programs (Laurie.Ecke@hallco.org)
  • Leigh Brown, Elementary Gifted Coordinator (Leigh.Brown@hallco.org)

Teaching & Learning Menu

  • High School Teaching & Learning
  • Middle School Teaching & Learning
  • Elementary School Teaching & Learning
  • Pre-K Program
  • Advanced District Accreditation
  • Assessment
  • Programs Of Choice
  • CTAE
  • ESOL & Migrant Programs / International Center
  • Federal Programs
  • Professional Learning
  • Rigor
  • Special Education
  • Strategic Waiver School System (SWSS)
  • Student Services
  • Advanced District Accreditation
  • GOSA School Report Cards
  • AHERA Management Plan
  • Active RFP'S/BIDS
  • After School Program
  • Athletic Information
  • Complaint Procedures
  • Career Opportunity
  • Code of Conduct
  • CCRPI-District/Schools
  • Community Guide
  • Certificate of Attendance
  • Dual Enrollment
  • eCourses FAQ
  • ESPLOST Information
  • eBooks Listing
  • Faculty & Teacher Sites
  • GOSA Report Cards
  • Graduation Requirements
  • GA Performance Standards
  • HB91 Petition
  • LaunchPoint
  • Leadership Development
  • Legal/Non-Discrimination
  • Out of District Application
  • PSC - House Bill 251
  • Partners in Education
  • Research Approval
  • Rigor Initiatives
  • School Safety
  • School Nutrition
  • School Technology
  • Simbli
  • Student Registration
  • Summer School
  • System Accreditation
  • Transcripts & Records
  • Transportation
  • Contact us

    Hall County Schools
    711 Green Street
    Gainesville, GA 30501
    Phone: 770-534-1080

    Monday-Friday: 8am to 5pm

    Followon TwitterSubscribeto RSS Feed
    2023 © Copyright - Hall County Schools | Character, Competency, Rigor ...For All
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Mail
    Scroll to top