Gifted & Talented Education Program
We help gifted students reach their full potential.
At American Leadership Academy, we want to help each and every student reach his or her full potential. Our Enhanced Learning Program (ELP) allows students with gifted or accelerated capacities to thrive in an environment that is both challenging and appropriate for their unique needs and learning styles. This furthers our mission to provide the best educational experience to as many students as possible in a moral and wholesome environment.
Schedule a campus tour and learn more about what makes American Leadership Academy the best choice for your gifted child.
Gifted Program Overview
Gifted students in grades 2-6 participate in a pull-out program, in which they attend a separate class twice a week. This pull-out class is offered during designated “enrichment” blocks, and allows gifted students to participate in all general classroom activities
For a full detailed layout plan of our AZ Gifted Education Program see our Gifted Scope & Sequence.
What are the characteristics of a gifted student?
We see our gifted students as talented individuals with exceptional abilities.
Although “gifted” can manifest itself differently in different students, there are some characteristics that are generally accepted to be shared by many gifted students. Our teachers and staff at American Leadership Academy are aware of these characteristics and utilize these skills in our gifted learning program.
| Able to learn quickly They may pick up on new concepts and material more quickly than their peers. |
Curious They have an intense “need to know.” They show interest in the way things work. |
Abstract thinkers They are able to draw connections easily. They may have a talent for debate. |
| Strong communicators They often have a large vocabulary and are able to express themselves well. |
Independent They may challenge authority or the status quo. They may work well alone. |
Inquisitive They ask questions and search for answers. |
| Tuned in to their surroundings They have a strong sense of right, wrong, and fairness. They may show interest in current events. |
Intense They may be opinionated or strong-willed. Their personalities seem magnified. |
Talented Often have a wide variety of interests and abilities, inside and outside the classroom. |
While these characteristics are common among gifted students, it’s important to remember that no two gifted students are the same. They have different strengths, different interests, and different learning styles. Gifted students can be:
- Introverted or extroverted
- Highly focused students or daydreamers
- Outspoken or quiet
- Rule-followers or rule-challengers
- Socially confident or socially insecure
For this reason, we rely on the CogAT assessment, along with teacher recommendation, when it comes to identifying and placing gifted students.
Our gifted programs are designed to ensure that each student is stimulated and empowered according to his or her own needs.
Testing for Gifted Program at ALA
American Leadership Academy uses the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), a widely-used, state-approved assessment to assess specific reasoning skills in areas that strongly correlate to academic success. The CogAT consists of three areas:
Verbal - used to assess a student's vocabulary, efficiency and verbal memory, ability to determine word relationships, and the ability to comprehend ideas.
Quantitative - used to assess a student's quantitative reasoning, problem solving abilities, and abstract reasoning.
Non-Verbal - used to assess a student's reasoning abilities through the use of spatial and figural content.
This test may be taken by any student who is referred by parents, teachers, or qualified ALA staff members. Qualification for gifted services is based on performance on this assessment. Check your schools gifted page to see eligibility requirements. Placement testing for the gifted program occurs in the Fall and placement status is reviewed each Spring.
Webb's Depth of Knowledge
In this program, gifted students are able to work among their peers on cross-curricular units that extend beyond the general lessons. Gifted teachers utilize Webb's "Depth of Knowledge" scale to encourage students to reach their full potential.
| DOK-1 | DOK-2 | DOK-3 | DOK-4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| RECALL & REPRODUCE | APPLY KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS/ BASIC REASONING | STRATEGIC THINKING | EXTENSIVE THINKING |
| Who? | How did it take place? | How can I make use of it to solve a problem? | What do you think, feel, or believe? |
| What? | Why did it take place? | Why does it solve the problem? | What will or could happen? |
| Where? | How does it operate? | What is the cause, effect, or reason? | What is the relationship? |
| When? | Why does it operate? | What are the intended and unexpected outcomes? | How did it influence? What if? |
Gifted students have unique strengths and exceptional opportunities.
American Leadership Academy believes in providing the best possible education for each and every one of our students. For gifted students, that means tuning in to their learning styles, recognizing and encouraging their interests, and moving at their speed to create an environment that matches and challenges their abilities.
Supporting gifted students from K-12th grade
Why gifted education?
By definition in the Arizona Revised Statutes, gifted students are “not afforded an opportunity for otherwise attainable progress and development in regular classroom instruction,” and they need “appropriate gifted education services, to achieve at levels commensurate with the child's intellect and ability.”
In other words, gifted students do not thrive in regular classrooms and require a more challenging learning environment that’s personalized to fit their educational needs and learning style/pace.
We take this information to heart as we implement specialized curriculums and lessons that help our gifted students soar to new heights.
Gifted education in Arizona
An estimated 8% of Arizona’s public school population is considered gifted or advanced. Public school districts in Arizona are required to identify gifted learners and to provide them with gifted programs and services. These laws, unfortunately, do not specify any model that should be used in gifted education, which means that gifted programs can vary widely from school to school, even within the same school district.1
American Leadership Academy is committed to providing the best possible learning environment for K-12 gifted students—meaning, we provide structure, consistency, and proven educational methods to our advanced and gifted students. ALA is able to expand our students knowledge, push their limits, and help them discover their own potential.
Gifted 2nd-6th Grade Students
In elementary school (grades 2-6), the gifted program at ALA is organized as a pull-out program. Gifted students attend a separate class once or twice a week. These classes are scheduled and organized in a way that allows gifted students to participate in all general classroom activities.
Gifted programs for grades 2-6 are offered at all of our elementary school campuses:
Gifted 7th-12th Grade Students
At higher grade levels, honors, AP, and dual enrollment classes are available at American Leadership Academy to students with gifted abilities. These classes offer challenging curriculums and more opportunities for advanced and extended learning. They also prepare students for continued education and college attendance.
Honors, AP, and dual enrollment classes are offered at all of our middle school and high school campuses.
Parent involvement with American Leadership Academy
“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.”
- Jane D. Hull, former Governor of Arizona
Research has shown that parental involvement in education has a positive impact on:
- Grades
- Test scores
- School attendance
- Social skills
- Classroom behavior2
Supported by this research and by our own experience, American Leadership Academy strongly encourages parents and guardians of our students to participate at the individual, classroom, and school-wide level.
- We know that, as a parent or guardian, your child’s education is very important to you. You can play an active role in your gifted child’s education by:
- Communicating with your child’s teacher(s) regularly
- Scheduling meetings as needed to discuss your child’s progress
- Reviewing lessons with your child at home
- Modeling a love of continued learning
- Praising your child’s effort and growth
In our gifted program, we want to work with parents to make sure their child’s needs are being met and that they’re receiving the attention they deserve.
Contact Us
Please contact your school's Gifted Teacher for any additional questions you have about gifted program testing, teachers, methods, or curriculums.
Schedule a campus tour and learn more about what makes American Leadership Academy the best choice for your gifted child.
1) https://www.azed.gov/gifted-education/
2) Henderson, A.T., and K.L. Mapp. 2002. A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement. National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools, Southwest Educational Development Laboratory.