The Georgia State Board of Education defines a gifted student as “a student who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual and/or creative ability(ies), exhibits an exceptionally high degree of motivation, and/or excels in specific academic fields, and who needs special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve levels commensurate with his or her abilities.”

 Cobb County provides services for identified gifted students at all grade levels.  The gifted program is designed to meet the very specific needs of these students and to extend competencies in the areas of cognitive skills, communication skills, and meta-cognitive skills beyond the experience of the regular classroom.  The goals of the gifted program are to:

·       Develop skills for independent learning

·        Provide opportunities for creative/productive learning

·        Develop the use of higher level thinking skills

·        Develop extensive and advanced skills in the area of research

·        Broaden the base of academic knowledge

The gifted program is funded by the state.  The requirements for identifying and placing students in the gifted program are governed by the Georgia State Department of Education Rule 160-4-2-.38 and are consistent statewide.  All students eligible for gifted services receive a minimum of five segments of service a week.  All teachers are experienced professionals who have met the requirements of the Georgia Department of Education for certification in Gifted Education.
 

The elementary student participates in the gifted program one day a week in a resource class.  While the student participates in the gifted program, assignments in general education classes are modified or eliminated depending on the student’s academic strengths.  Class size is limited to 17 students.
 

The gifted curriculum at the elementary level includes more elaborate, complex, and in depth study of major ideas, problems, and themes than would ordinarily be available in the regular classroom.  The curriculum blends instruction in math, science, social studies, and language arts into units that examine central themes, issues, problems, and topics.
 

Fundamental to curriculum developed for elementary gifted students are learning experiences that develop the use of thinking skills and processes.  This instruction enables students to apply those skills and to make informed decisions, to understand and apply concepts, to make judgments, and to implement strategies for solving problems.