Special & Gifted Education

March 31, 2020

Dear Parents:

We are working diligently to develop plans to meet student needs as we make the shift to distance learning due to the national response to COVID-19 and school closures.  Obviously, our efforts to provide educational continuity for all of our students during the school closure period include strategic planning for our students receiving special education services.  Although these services may look different in light of these unfortunate circumstances, our commitment to your child and your child’s success remains the same.

Teachers and related-service providers will make every effort to adjust your child’s program in order to meet your child’s need, to the extent possible, in the temporary distance-learning environment.  Our staff will continue to monitor student progress to determine what, if any, adjustments are needed for your child.  In addition, any required evaluations and IEP meetings will be held via telephone or video conference call to the greatest extent practicable and feasible.

As quickly as they can be arranged, you will be receiving phone calls from the staff who currently serve your child to assess your child’s technological needs, your communication preferences and to discuss, with your input, what will be accessible, reasonable and appropriate for your child during the school closure period and in light of this shift to distance learning, including through telephone calls, virtual services or activities, and/or paper assignments.

We are eager to work together in good faith and partnership with you to design and implement an effective program for your child, in light of the current circumstances.  We look forward to collaborating with you.   Should you have questions at this time, please contact the St. Clair County Board of Education at 205-594-7131 and ask for the special education department. 

Best regards,

 Nona C. Vickers

Special Education Coordinator

The St. Clair County School District will provide a quality Special Education program that is a collaboration between general and special education. Our Special Education program is comprehensive in scope and serves the diverse needs and abilities of all students.

The mission of the Special Education Department is to support the district’s goal of excellence for all students including individuals with exceptional needs. Collaboration between general and special education is encouraged to provide opportunities for special education students to participate in the district’s regular education program to the greatest extent possible.

Special Education in the St. Clair County School District is a partnership between the school, family, and community. In developing an appropriate educational program, inclusion and opportunities are provided for every student to maximize his/her potential and become a productive member of society.

Intellectually gifted children and youth are those who perform at or have demonstrated the potential to perform at high levels in academic or creative fields when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment. These children and youth require services not ordinarily provided by the regular school program. Children and youth possessing these abilities can be found in all populations, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor. Gifted students may be found within any race, ethnicity, gender, economic class, or nationality. In addition, some students with disabilities may be gifted.

I. To provide training for all staff on the procedures for referring and
identifying students for gifted services.
II. To continue working towards racial equity in the gifted program.
III. To continue conducting Child Find Activities
IV. To ensure that there are comparable services throughout the system.
V. To work towards a true continuum of services for high-end learners.
VI. To provide curriculum for gifted learners that are concept and problem based.

The St. Clair County Gifted Program strives to provide the same level of notice to parents and students regarding information about the gifted program as it does with respect to other significant school activities, policies, or procedures. The notice includes information on the definition of gifted, how to refer a student, the basic eligibility criteria (excluding test scores), and who to contact to make a referral.

Teachers, counselors, administrators, parents or guardians, peers, self or any other individuals with knowledge of the student's abilities may refer a student. Additionally, all second grade students will be observed as potential gifted referrals using a gifted behavior checklist.

For each student referred, information is gathered in the areas of Aptitude, Characteristics, and Performance. The information is entered on a matrix where points are assigned according to established criteria. The total number of points earned determines if the student qualifies for gifted services.

To make a referral, contact the gifted speicalist at your child's school.

Each school in St. Clair County establishes a team to receive and review referrals for gifted services. Each team consists of at least three people (gifted specialist(s), counselor, administrator, general education teacher, psychometrist, or other). Members include someone knowledgeable about the student and someone knowledgeable about gifted education. It is highly recommended that the gifted specialist(s) serve on the GRST.

The St. Clair County School System uses the State Screening/Eligibility Determination Form to screen students to determine if further assessment is necessary. 14 points are required to pass screening.

The St. Clair County School System selects and administers tests and evaluative materials that are sensitive to cultural, economic, and/or linguistic differences and that are appropriate for the special populations such as the sensory impaired, LEP, or physically impaired student. Students from underrepresented groups will have both verbal and nonverbal abilities assessed (and creativity when appropriate) before being determined ineligible.

The Eligibility Determination Team (EDT) implements procedures to determine eligibility of students for gifted services. Members of the team include someone knowledgeable about the student being assessed, someone knowledgeable about gifted students in general, and someone able to interpret the information gathered. There are at least three members on the team. The EDT may include the same members as the GRST.

The Eligibility Determination Team (EDT) uses the ALSDE Gifted Eligibility/Screening Determination Form to screen students to determine gifted eligibility. At least 17 points are required for gifted eligibility.

Gifted students receive services through a variety of service delivery options depending on the age of the student and the resources available to the LEA. Services for students of the same grade level on different campuses are comparable in quality and duration. Examples of service delivery options include: consultative services from the gifted specialist provided in the regular classroom setting (e.g., extra materials. learning centers); curriculum compacting; cluster grouping with differentiated curriculum in the regular classroom; cross-age grouping in areas of strength; traditional pullout services for 3 hours a week; advanced curriculum provided by qualified regular education teachers through differentiated curriculum; electives in a variety of talent areas (art, music [choral and instrumental], technology taught by qualified instructors; advanced core curriculum classes provided by qualified regular or distance learning instructor; electives in a variety of talent areas (art, music [choral and instrumental], technology, foreign languages) taught by qualified instructors; and counseling services for college and career preparation.

The St. Clair County School System provides on-going staff development for gifted specialists and general education teachers to ensure continuous improvement. Professional development may include but is not limited to: the gifted referral process, underrepresented populations, differentiated curriculum, updates in gifted education, and the nature and needs of the gifted student.