Douglas County Gifted and Talented Information

DCSD Gifted Education News

We send out a monthly newsletter called the DCSD Gifted Education News. The newsletter will contain information about upcoming events, updates, resources and student opportunities through the Douglas County School District.
DCSD Gifted Education News

Early Access to Kindergarten information

GT ID Referral Link

CogAt

DCSD uses CogAT as a universal screening tool. As a universal screening tool, all students scoring at the 95th percentile or above on one or more of the batteries will be referred for the gifted identification process if they have not already been identified for gifted programming. Scores from this universal testing may be used as one piece of data to inform instructional decisions for all students, not just advanced learners. We administer the CogAT universally to all 2nd and 6th Graders. 6th Grade is in November, and 2nd Grade is in February. If you would like your child to take this assessment, and they are in grades 1,3,4 or 5 please contact me. Referral testing will be in February.

Useful Websites

DCSD Gifted Homepage - Community

Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented (CAGT)

National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)

Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)

CDE Office of Gifted Education

Discovery Application for 2022-23 Opens End of September

The Douglas County School District Discovery Program is designed to meet the needs of gifted elementary school students (2nd to 6th grade) who require intensity of instruction and acceleration beyond what can reasonably be expected from the regular school programming. For more information about the Discovery Program please go HERE.

Neighborhood School GT Support

Thank you for choosing Sand Creek to be your child's learning community. We're joining the other schools in the Mountain Vista feeder area in the philosophy of aiding the classroom teachers with resources and strategies to help differentiate instruction to better meet the needs of all learners. Research supports the idea that by keeping our learners together, they all benefit socially as well as academically. We want all students to feel connected to everything that goes on in their classroom community. This includes mastery of the grade level curriculum, building positive relationships with peers, and gaining knowledge that comes from shared experiences and discussions with a diverse group. Each school site provides programming for gifted/high potential learners through the implementation of some or all of the following strategies:
Differentiated instruction
Curriculum compacting
Content acceleration
Grade-level acceleration
Mentorships
Tiered assignments
Flexible grouping
Independent study
Project-based learning
Leadership opportunities

Sand Creek Elementary

Principal: Pamela Pekarek

8898 S. Maplewood Dr, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Phone 303-387-6600 | Fax

Attendance Phone 303-387-6602

In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 720-433-1083.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).