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About The Program

About The Program

 

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Upper Merion Area School District Student Services

K-12 Gifted Education 

The mission of the Upper Merion Area School District's Gifted Education Program is to ensure that all gifted students are identified and provided with individualized and challenging educational opportunities and experiences. We offer a range of services so that individual programs can be designed around each student's identified needs. These programs are based on each student's strengths and needs, and are designed to develop their unique talents and abilities. After determining eligibility and need for specially designed instruction (in compliance with Chapter 16 guidelines), an appropriate individualized educational program is prepared by a multidisciplinary team comprised of school personnel, parents, and (where appropriate) the student. We encourage gifted education students to join all students in making positive contributions to society.

PROGRAM GOALS

The Upper Merion Area School District's Gifted program was designed with input from teachers, administrators, parents, and students. We provide services to a diverse population of gifted learners. Goals of the program include: - Identifying candidates for the program and assessing their eligibility using a variety of tools and procedures. - Emphasizing a positive working relationship between parents and school personnel. - Creating an individualized, flexible, and appropriate program based on the measured strengths and needs of each eligible student. - Providing guidance and appropriate support services for eligible students, including those who are low achieving or at risk. - Providing staff development opportunities for all school personnel, including support for the preparation of differentiated educational plans, materials, and curriculum by regular classroom teachers. - Promoting the use of strategies developed for challenging students’ analytical and critical thinking skills in regular classrooms. - Realizing student potential to excel in accordance with cognitive and academic strengths and beyond. Students will have opportunity for advancement beyond the typical high school interests to further inspire their strengths and interests in higher education.

Gifted Services at the High School

 

The goal of the high school’s gifted program is to help identified students achieve success. Gifted support begins with the transition into 9th grade. Students begin to plan where they would like to be after high school, and how they can get there.

 

Power Point Presentation - Gifted Program Overview K-12 pdf

 

Power Point Presentation - Gifted Program Overview K-12

 

PowerPoint Presentation - High School Gifted Program

 

 

 

Academic Rigor

 

 

The primary goal of the gifted program in the high school is to provide gifted students with a challenging academic program, and learning experiences which allow them to develop his or her skills and interests. In the high school, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning as they become life-long learners. The gifted program will help students clarify their post graduation goals, and help to design a program which will help each student reach these goals.

 

The student's academic program begins with selecting challenging courses from the many offerings within the high school. Honors level courses and AP courses are offered in most subject areas. Students may also elect to participate in independent study programs for enrichment. These programs may be uniquely designed by the student and a supervising teacher, or may be offered through university distance learning or web based programs. Additional programs including service learning opportunities, field trips, pullout programs, job shadowing, and alternative learning settings may be available to students. Dual enrollment is offered in some subject areas.

 

 

Advanced Placement

 

The Advanced Placement courses listed below are offered during most years.  Additional AP Level courses are available through Upper Merion's affiliation with the Virtual High Schol.

 

  • AP Music History
  • AP Calculus
  • AP Statistics
  • AP Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Physics
  • AP English 11
  • AP English 12
  • AP US History
  • AP Government and Politics
  • AP Modern European History
  • AP Computer Science (Java)

 

 

Enrichment Opportunities

 

The enrichment opportunities listed below may be developed for individual students

 

·  Independent Study

· Service Learning

· Online web based courses

· Distance Learning

· Job shadowing

· Internship possibilities

· Gifted Seminar

 

 

College Planning

 

 

  • College visitations
  • Junior Conference
  • Field trip and guest speaker opportunities
  • School college resource library