Change in Gifted Class Format at Stanton Middle School

Students in the gifted education program at will see a few changes when the new school year starts.

Instead of separate gifted classes, students in the program will be taught the gifted curriculum during their advanced classes for the 2012-2013 school year.

Kent City Schools Superintendent Joseph Giancola said students will no longer be pulled from their regular classes for gifted services.

"The gifted teacher will be delivering services in an inclusion format where the gifted teacher and advanced curriculum teacher work together to deliver gifted education," Giancola said.

In the past, students missed a full day of their schedule for gifted education.

Giancola said the change is not budget related, as the district still employs three gifted teachers for grades one through eight.

Parents of middle school students were alerted to the change in a letter from the school dated May 29.

In the letter, signed by Stanton Middle School Principal Justin Gates and the district's director of instructional programs, Lori Slattery, parents were advised the advanced math and language arts classes will now incorporate gifted education.

"In addition, we are currently designing a plan to continue work with STEM (science, technology engineering and math) for those students who choose to participate," the letter reads. "Our goal is for our gifted students to continue to achieve at their highest potential."