Gifted Education and High School
IS MY CHILD EXCEPTIONAL GIFTED?
In most cases, a gifted student can rely on rigorous coursework and opportunities in the honors, AP, and
college courses while in high school classrooms to provide the challenge needed to make appropriate
progress toward post high school study. Colleges and Universities usually (but not always) recognize
honors, AP and college courses for credit at their own campus.
But when the WV State Legislature removed Gifted Enrichment at the high school level (effective July 1,
1990), they were wisely aware that not every gifted student is suitably served through only those
academic methods. They created a new category of gifted for the high school level called Exceptional
Gifted. They included four areas of eligibility and stated that a student only needed to be eligible in one
area to receive services. The four areas are:
1. Meets the eligibility criteria for one or more of the disabilities as defined in Policy 2419;
(such as gifted AND hearing impaired, gifted AND a learning disability, etc.) and/or ability level,
educational performance and achievement levels; and/or comprehensive psychological evaluation, and/or
2. Meets the definition for economically disadvantaged; (eligible for free/reduced lunch), and/or
3. Meets the definition for underachievement, which takes into consideration the student’s, and/or
4. Meets the definition for psychological adjustment disorder as documented by a comprehensive
psychological evaluation.
A student must only meet one category (see above), but can also meet several, or all, categories. Once
eligibility is discussed, documented, and determined at the “Eighth Grade Exit/Eligibility” meeting, if
found to be eligible, an IEP will be developed with the student’s needs in mind. While prior to high
school (grades 1-8) gifted services focus on strengths and enrichment, high school gifted services focus
on support, transition, and graduation. Services are provided within each academic year to support
success in classes, transition toward what they need to find out or know to succeed in a post high school
course of study/training, and graduation within the appropriate time frame with credits needed.
This process is not always easy, but is worthwhile for an “at-risk” gifted high school student. If your son
or daughter meets any of the above criteria, please bring documentation to the “eighth grade exit/
eligibility” meeting usually held in the last half of their eighth grade year. You can ask for them to be
considered for eligibility and services, although the team at the eligibility meeting (including you as the
parent) will work together as a whole to determine eligibility. The IEP will not be quite the same as what
you are accustomed to, but it still will be revisited each year. Procedural Safeguards continue, as well.