One question I have for you - which is actually coming from a somewhat cynical place.... - why would Common Core be a reason to eliminate a gifted program? I will admit to not entirely understanding how CC is being implemented across the US... but a small part of me wonders if that's not just an excuse when really there is a budget issue... or perhaps an administrator is simply trying to make their mark by mixing things up? I'd be really concerned about the impact on academics for gifted kids as a result of the change.
polarbear
My cynicism is with you. However, the argument seems to be that access to higher level curriculum would be problematic if one class is dedicated to the above-level currriculum and all the other classes are stuck with the at-level curriculum. The idea is that in-class differentiation would allow better access to curriculum for all students. I think that under state law, there would still be identification of "gifted" students, but there would no longer be a dedicated "gifted" class and that the label "gifted" will eventually be dropped and replaced with something that is less of a lightning rod.
