Enrichment Policy
Philosophy
The Enrichment Program at Farmingdale School:
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Challenges students beyond the general education curriculum
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Encourages the development of critical thinking skills
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Encourages creativity, flexibility, and elaboration
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Develops confidence in expressing ideas in a variety of formats including discussion, debate, expository and creative writing
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Develops inquiry and investigative skills by tackling real-world problems
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Develops leadership skills through positive interactions with peers
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Encourages a lifelong enthusiasm and commitment to learning and self-growth
Identification Phases
Farmingdale School uses a comprehensive process for identifying students and determining eligibility for the Enrichment Program. Multiple measures, both qualitative and quantitative, are used to determine eligibility.
Farmingdale implements a Schoolwide Enrichment Model for all students in Grades K-8 as part of a multi-tiered systems of support. All students are provided with exceptional opportunities to participate in advanced and enriched learning opportunities spanning all curricular, social-emotional, and citizenship learning experiences. Classroom instruction is differentiated for targeted instruction based on formative and summative assessments to allow for curriculum compacting and modification in addition to general exploratory activities. Small group and individual programs and experiences are offered within each tier of support at Farmingdale School.
Continuum of Services
Tier 1:
Flexible groups by skill level, targeted ability and interest area (K-8)
STEAM Courses (K-8) 21st Century Life and Careers (K-8)
Assemblies and Field Trips (PreK-8)
FLEX Courses (6-8)
Tier 2:
Enrichment Experiences: Whole Class Model (K-8)
Tier 3:
Enrichment Periods: 1:1/Small Group Model (K-8)
Advanced Math Courses (6, 7 & 8)
Procedures for Identifying Students
- Classroom teachers will be familiar with the criteria for Enrichment pupils and will be alert to pupils who exhibit those criteria. The identification methodology will be developmentally appropriate, non-discriminatory, and related to the programs and services offered by the district.
- The Enrichment Coordinator will review the student data of all Kindergarten through grade eight pupils against the criteria for identifying Enrichment pupils. This initial review will prompt a secondary review of all indicators of status and progress for Enrichment programming.
- The Enrichment Coordinator will confer with past and present teachers of any pupil identified in the review of files and of any pupil recommended for screening by a teacher.
- The Enrichment Coordinator will identify those pupils who are eligible for programs based on the identification criteria.
Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act Appeal Process
Mrs. Aundrea Scott
Enrichment Coordinator
aundrea.scott@farmingdaleschool.com
Dr. Edith Conroy
Superintendent/Principal, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Special Services
edith.conroy@farmingdaleschool.com
Equitable Identification
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ELL students will be provided assessments in the language in which the student is most proficient, when available.
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Farmingdale offers assessments that are responsive to students’ economic conditions, gender, developmental differences, special needs, and any other factors that mitigate against fair assessment practices.
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Students will be assessed consistently across grade levels.
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Student assessments will be sensitive to current stage of talent development.
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Assessment data comes from multiple sources and includes multiple assessment methods.
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Farmingdale Public School uses assessment instruments that provide evidence of reliability and validity for the intended purposes and target students.
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Equitable identification needs must be formally documented in the student’s records.
Identification Process Suggestion
1. Teachers may recommend any students from their current class or from their previous year’s class. Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher if they believe their child would qualify for enrichment and has not been identified.
2. Teachers may also recommend students who display characteristics of giftedness in areas not easily determined by a formal assessment using the list of characteristics of gifted students as a guide.
3. These student recommendations will then be reviewed by the Enrichment Team. The Enrichment Team will include the Enrichment Coordinators, Enrichment teachers, principal, student’s primary teacher(s). Additional teachers may be included on the Enrichment Team as deemed appropriate. For example, including the music teacher if the student’s area of giftedness is music.
4. The Enrichment Coordinators and principal will make the determination of acceptance into the program after they review all applicable data. They may use multiple measure criteria , teacher recommendation forms, notes from the Enrichment Team meeting, the student’s school records, and any other evidence provided.
5. Parents of students who are approved for entry into the Enrichment Program will be notified by a written notice. Parents have the right to an informal appeal and review. The principal and Enrichment Coordinator are prepared to work collaboratively with parents to answer any questions and review decisions made about entry into the program. Forms to appeal an enrichment program decision can be found on the school website.
6. Once a student has been invited into the Enrichment Program and the parents have been notified by letter, the student must return the signed letter to be formally accepted into the Enrichment Program.
Program Retention
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Students must continue to perform to the best of his or her ability in regular classes and seek to reach his or her full potential in the Enrichment Program.
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Students must attend all sessions for the Enrichment Program when in attendance at school.
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Parents who do not wish for their child to be included in the Enrichment Program may submit a letter indicating their desire for removal from the program.
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Once in the Enrichment Program, each student will be reviewed on a bi-yearly basis to ensure they continue to maintain the criteria needed for the program. If a student does not continue to maintain the criteria, their file will be reviewed by the Enrichment Team.
Appeal/ Renomination Process C.18A:35-38 Complaint for Noncompliance
An individual who believes that Farmingdale School has not complied with the provisions of the Act may:
1. File a complaint with the Farmingdale Public School Board of Education.
a. Board’s shall issue a decision, in writing, to affirm, reject, or modify the district’s action in the matter.
2. Then file a petition of appeal of the board’s written decision to the Commissioner of Education through the Office of Controversies and Disputes in accordance with N.J.S.18A:6-9 and the procedures set forth in State Board of Education regulations.
Enrichment Decision Appeals and/or Renomination
Teachers, parents or students may appeal any final decision of the selection committee regarding selection or removal from the gifted program. Appeals shall be made first to the selection committee. Any subsequent appeals shall be made in accordance with local/state policy. Steps include the following:
Submit an appeal letter/ no later than 15 working days after the committee has notified the parents of the selection decision.
● The committee members will review their decision and will respond to the person making the appeal no later than 15 working days after receipt of the letter of appeal.
● The committee may request additional testing or data collection and may interview the student and/or parents.
Please print and fill out the below form as part of the appeal process.
Enrichment Appeal Form