District outlines Schoolwide Enrichment Model for elementary gifted programming

Tiffany Lees, the district Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) coordinator, presented an overview of the district’s gifted-and-enrichment programming and how state grant funds are used.

Lees said the district currently funds six SEM specialists who each serve two to three schools across 17 elementary schools and described a pull-out enrichment model serving fourth, fifth and sixth graders for one hour per week. She explained the district’s identification process: teacher recommendation accounts for 60% of placement and academic measures 40%.

Lees referenced the Utah definition for gifted identification (r 277-707) and described the district’s use of the Renzulli rating form to gather teacher input on characteristics such as leadership, creativity and motivation. The program’s instructional foundation emphasizes depth and complexity, research-based skills (note-taking, source evaluation) and scaffolded projects that move students from experiencing a topic to creating presentations.

Lees described grade-level projects: fourth-graders complete in-depth I-search projects and 'images of greatness' presentations in spring; fifth-graders complete a 'Big How' research-and-model project; sixth-graders learn creative problem solving, create innovations and prepare for an "I'm Creator" entrepreneur fair scheduled Thursday, May 7 at Green Canyon with two sessions to accommodate all sixth-grade students.

Board members asked about how SEM will transition when sixth grade moves to middle school; Lees said current guidance is to focus SEM on fourth and fifth grades next year while the district’s advanced-learning committee continues deliberations. A board member suggested programs like National History Day and Destination Imagination; Lees invited materials to review.

What's next: Lees will finalize event dates and share them with the board; the advanced-learning committee will continue discussions about grade-level placement and program expansion.