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Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)
The Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) is designed to stimulate and challenge qualified children beyond what is available in the regular classroom. Students eligible for the GATE program demonstrate far above average abilities or talents, as documented on standardized tests, classroom work, or teacher observations.
There are two components to our GATE program. In accordance with state law, the one aspect is focused on the students' work in the classroom. Eligible students are given alternative assignments and assessments that take into consideration their higher intellectual abilities. The other component entails activities that occur beyond the classroom, such as in the music program, student council, and in student performances. In these places, gifted and talented students are given opportunities to extned themselves and explore their talents. The GATE coordinator is responsible for ensuring that students are identified, and for supporting the classroom teachers' effort to serve those students.
Program Purpose
The Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program, authorized by Education Code (EC) sections 52200-52212 (Outside Source), provides funding for local educational agencies (LEAs) to develop unique education opportunities for high-achieving and underachieving pupils in California public elementary and secondary schools who have been identified as gifted and talented. Special efforts are made to ensure that pupils from economically disadvantaged and varying cultural backgrounds are provided with full participation in these unique opportunities.
LEAs may establish programs for gifted and talented pupils consisting of special day classes, part-time groupings, and cluster groupings. GATE curricular components are required to be planned and organized as integrated differentiated learning experiences within the regular school day and may be augmented or supplemented with other differentiated activities related to the core curriculum, including independent study, acceleration, postsecondary education, and enrichment. For all programs for gifted and talented pupils, including those programs for pupils with high creative capability and talents in the performing and visual arts, each participating LEA shall concentrate part of its curriculum on providing GATE pupils with an academic component and, where appropriate, with instruction in basic skills.
GATE programs are operated in approximately 800 districts located in all 58 counties. There are over 480,000 public school students that have been identified as gifted and talented in the state.
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) programs provide incentives for public comprehensive high schools in California to provide GATE and other students access to rigorous, college-level courses. Students may pursue college-level work while in secondary school and receive college credit, advanced academic standing, or both. Completion of AP courses and related tests are recognized by most public and private universities.
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