[Lintu]

As I've posted about before, I've been investigating educational options around here. I noticed that there were no elementary school kids under the "gifted and talented" label here in Stratford and it sounded suspicious. Someone just told me it's because the schools can't afford GT programs, and that basically no one has them unless you're in one of the really rich towns. Is that true??? If so, I'm pretty pissed.

[RogerAnthony]

Very few towns have gifted and talented education programs. Legally towns are required to identify TAG students, but are not required to provide any services for them. They are usually the first thing to go in budget cuts.

[kidyankee764]

Of the towns you were looking at, it looks like Oxford and Monroe have the best Gifted and Talented program as of 2010:

• Trumbull for grades 3-5.
• Oxford for grades K-8
• Orange for grades K-6
• Woodbridge for grades PK-6.
• Shelton for just grade 6.
• Milford for grades 4-8
• Stratford for grades 4-8.
• Monroe for grades K-8.

Doesn't look like Easton offers one.

Source: http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pd.../2008gtdir.pdf

[Lintu]

Wow, thanks for that, KidYankee! I was trying to find that data earlier and wasn't even sure where to start). That definitely helps with future decisionmaking.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Lintu

As I've posted about before, I've been investigating educational options around here. I noticed that there were no elementary school kids under the "gifted and talented" label here in Stratford and it sounded suspicious. Someone just told me it's because the schools can't afford GT programs, and that basically no one has them unless you're in one of the really rich towns. Is that true??? If so, I'm pretty pissed.

Huh?

The ALPS program has been run out of Stratford Academy for many decades.

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Huh?

The ALPS program has been run out of Stratford Academy for many decades.

That only starts at 4th grade though, I think.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Lintu

That only starts at 4th grade though, I think.

Yes, but Stratford Academy itself is a magnet school that begins with Kindergarten.

Whether or not ALPS is a separate 4-6 program for "super-advanced" students, i honestly don't know. You would have to contact the Academy for that information.

[Lintu]

Yeah, I know Stratford Academy is a magnet, but I think it's just lottery, right? It doesn't specifically pull G/T kids. I'm nervous about G/T kids not having enough challenge to keep them occupied. Several people I know have turned to homeschooling for this reason, but I don't really want to do that.

[Rootsgal]

This is easy...our son, now 16 is gifted and talented and our town had nothing. We got him into the MAGNET/CHOICE program. The teachers LOVE to teach and they LOVE kids!
He is now at the University MAGNET HIGH Science & Engineering School in Hartford. They have ALL honors classes as well as COLLEGE classes. He took AP biology as a sophomore and is now taking a college electronics class.
The MAGNET schools are EXCELLENT, and they are all over Connecticut. Go to the BOARD OF EDUCATION and make them give you the book. They will NOT want you to have it, but you have the right to CHOICE in Connecticut. Your childs college resume will be noticed more quickly from one of these schools as opposed to a public school.
Bus comes right to the driveway too!

[jax12479]

I went through the Greenwich public school system, and we had TAG (gifted & talented). It started in one of the early grades in elementary school. As I remember, we were just taken out of our regular classrooms for a few hours a couple times a week and did critical-thinking activities in small groups, things like that.