The Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP) is the framework of a student’s program and should consist of information that is useful in providing appropriate programming and support services.  The GIEP is a yearly summary document that includes all curricular areas in which a gifted child is to receive education that is adapted and modified to provide opportunities to participate in acceleration or enrichment, or both, as appropriate for the student’s individual needs.  The options must enable them to learn at different rates, to learn difficult material earlier, and to think at a level different from their classmates.

A GIEP meeting must be held at least annually. In addition, a GIEP meeting must be held when a parent(s)/guardian(s) or teacher requests a meeting to develop, review, or revise a student’s individualized education plan.

The GIEP Team includes:

• Parent(s)/guardian(s)

• the student if 16 years of age or older; younger students can also participate

• an LEA – Local Education Agency – this is a representative of the District who is knowledgeable about the availability of resources of the District and is authorized by the District to commit those resources

• one or more of the student’s current teachers

• any other individuals at the discretion of either the parent(s)/guardian(s) or the District

The District will take steps to ensure that one or both of the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student attend the GIEP meeting or have the opportunity to participate. An invitation to the GIEP meeting must be provided to the parents at least 10 calendar days in advance of the meeting. The meeting will be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time and place.

Components of the GIEP include:

Present Levels of Educational Performance which establish the extent of gifted potential, academic functioning levels, the child’s rates of acquisition/retention, and performance levels. Information would include:  Academic/Cognitive Strengths, Achievement Results (aligned to grade/course level standards to indicate instructional level), Progress on Goals (for annual review only), Aptitudes, interests, specialized skills, products and evidence of effectiveness in other academic areas, and Grades/Classroom Performance as Indicated by Subject Area Teachers.

Annual Goals are to be developed from the present levels of educational performance and be reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress within one year’s time.

Short-term Learning Outcomes are the actions and activities that will help the child reach the annual goals, evaluation criteria to determine when the child has achieved the annual goals, and the timelines. They should include what the student will produce, how he/she will apply the skills, or what real outcome will be achieved as a result of their engaging in a study, activity, or subject.

Specially Designed Instruction are the adaptations or modifications to the general curriculum, instruction, instructional environments, methods, materials, or a specialized curriculum. Specially designed instruction consists of planning and implementing varied approaches to content, process and product modification in response to the student’s interests, ability levels, readiness, and learning needs.

Support Services could include, but are not limited to the following: career guidance, counseling, transportation if necessary, and flexible grouping.

Dates indicate when the services will begin and the anticipated duration, based on one year, of the services.

Services & Programs

The gifted programs that are offered to provide opportunities for acceleration, enrichment, or both as outlined and at least annually revised in Gifted Individual Education Plans (GIEPs) include a continuum of services. These services may include but are not limited to the following:

• Pull-out enrichment opportunities

• Advanced placement courses

• Dual enrollment opportunities

• Independent study opportunities

• Flexible grouping based on ability, strengths, and interests

• Online academy courses

• Academic competitions

• Participation in IU and non-IU sponsored challenges

• Acceleration or grade/course advancement

• Accommodations in the regular education classroom

• Career exploration and job shadowing

• GIEP Team meetings and revisions to meet individual needs for specially designed instruction

• Flexible scheduling

• Tutorial and club time

• STEM instruction/activities

• Co-teaching/collaboration

• Individual and team opportunities

• College and assessment prep

• Scholarship opportunities

• Coding

• Extra-curricular programs

• Mentoring

• Critical thinking/problem-solving opportunities

• Honors courses