G&T Criteria K thru 5th

The Gifted and Talented program is about identifying students that possess or demonstrate high levels of ability in one or more content area compared to their chronological peers in the local district and who require modification of their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities. New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:8-3.1. Using this administrative code as a guide, the Township of Union Public Schools G&T program focuses on identifying and providing an engaging educational environment. The students will be academically challenged, enriched and accelerated to enable them to make continuous progress in school.
The Gifted and Talented Programs for the gifted students surpasses appropriate grade level and place an emphasis on analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The Gifted and Talented Program creates opportunities for students to venture "outside of the box", to see beyond that which is apparent to the average learner. Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory is incorporated for the gifted students use their preferred intelligence to demonstrate their giftedness. The G&T program hone students' exceptional skills and encourage students to reach higher levels of productivity.
Specific groups of students are pulled out from their regular class and participate in enrichment activities with their G&T teacher. The Kindergarten thru Second grade students meet with the G&T teacher on a rotation schedule. Third and Fourth grade students meet with the G&T teacher twice per week. A class period is approximately 40 minutes. Many of the assignments for G&T are project based including the yearly G&T Entrepreneurship Challenge for 4th graders that is done annually in the district during the month of May.
Students will use 21st century learning skills, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication and Critical Thinking. They will be encouraged to use these skills in class to complete their assignments and projects.
The core academic areas are enhanced in the G&T program include but are not limited to College and Career Readiness, Language Arts, STEM, Social Studies, etc.

For Kindergarten thru First Grade, students will have to fulfill at least 3 of the 4 criteria described below:
Kindergarten criteria:

1. Teacher Recommendation
2. Special Area Teacher Recommendation
3. Parent Recommendation
4. iReady Scores

First Grade criteria:

1. Participation in Kindergarten G&T
2. Teacher Recommendation
3. Special Area Teacher Recommendation
4. iReady Scores

For the Second thru Fifth grade, students will have to fulfill at least 4 of the 6 criteria described below.
Second Grade criteria:

1. G&T Teacher Evaluation
2. Teacher recommendation
3. Special Area Teacher Recommendation
4. 3.8 GPA and higher
5. Lexile Scores
6. iReady Scores: Top 10% on the previous year's end of the year assessment in both reading and math within their building

Third Grade criteria:

1. Teacher Recommendation
2. Special Area Teacher Recommendation
3. 3.8 GPA and higher
4. iReady Scores: Top 10% on the previous year's end of the year assessment in both reading and math within their building
5. Passing Torrance Test Score
6. Lexile Scores

Fourth Grade criteria

1. Teacher Recommendation
2. Special Area Teacher Recommendation
3. iReady Scores: Top 10% on the previous year's end of the year assessment in both reading and math within their building
4. Exceeded Expectations in Reading and Math 3^rd Grade state standardized test scores
5. GPA 3.8 and higher
6. Passing Torrance Test Score

Fifth Grade criteria:

1. Teacher Recommendation
2. Special Area Teacher Recommendation
3. iReady Scores: Top 10% on the previous year's end of the year assessment in both reading and math within their building
4. Exceeded Expectations in Reading and Math 4th Grade state standardized test scores
5. GPA 3.8 and higher
6. Passing Torrance Test Score