Discovery Program

(Gifted Education)

South Pike School District

  Philosophy/Mission Statement

        The goal of the Discovery Program of the South Pike School District is to provide an environment of enrichment, an atmosphere of acceptance, and a climate of quality wherein each student can realize his potential intellectually, creatively, and emotionally, and become a competent, responsible citizen of this country, this state, and this nation.

Note:  All records will be kept confidential by the South Pike School District and will be provided to other agencies only in accord with the Family Rights and Privacy Act. You may see your child’s records which relate to referral, identification, evaluation, and placement. The district will ask for your permission in writing before the first testing is done and before your child is placed in the gifted program (if they qualify).

Dr. Lynda Taylor, Director of Student Services

Darlene Hughes, Gifted Education Coordinator                         

Symeria Thompson, Gifted Education Teacher

Mississippi Gifted Education Act

          The Mississippi Gifted Education Act mandates that each public school district within the state provide gifted education programs for intellectually gifted students in grades 2-6. These programs must be designed to meet the individual needs of gifted students and shall be in addition to and different from the regular program of instruction provided by the district.

School Board Policy

          The South Pike School Board is committed to providing an educational program that recognizes the unique needs of gifted students. The goal is to provide appropriate, qualitatively different options in addition to placement in the regular education classroom. We concur that optimal opportunity for gifted students to realize his or her maximum potential could be achieved by a multi-dimensional teaching approach involving students in the decision-making process.

          Students will be referred, identified, and considered for placement in the program in accordance with District procedures and Mississippi State Department of Education regulations. The program will be offered to eligible students in each school (grades 2-6). Participation is elective on the part of the student and the parent. No eligible student will be placed in the gifted program until the parent signs for consent.

          Student progress will be assessed at least annually to determine the need for continuing services in the gifted program. Parents will be notified if school personnel see the need for removal of a student from the program for any period of time. Specific District procedures for removal of a gifted student from the program must be followed. Parental consent for removal of a student from the gifted program is required.