Quest Program
Frequently Asked Questions about Quest
- What is the Quest Program?
- Quest provides academic and visual arts services for gifted students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is designed to address individual learning styles, needs, and interests that encourage each student to develop to his or her greatest potential. The program follows the guidelines found in the Regulations Governing Educational Services for Gifted Students and the Virginia Standards of Quality.
- How are students referred for gifted services?
- A teacher, a parent/guardian, the student, a peer, or any person who has knowledge of the student’s abilities may initiate a referral. Referral forms can be obtained from the principal, gifted education specialist, or counselor at the school.
- When can a child be nominated for gifted services?
- From September through early-June of the academic school year, students in kindergarten through grade twelve may be referred for the identification process. No identification is done during the summer months.
- What criteria are used to determine if a child is gifted?
- Student may qualify for gifted services based on the following multiple criteria:
- Parental information
- Teacher recommendations
- Classroom grades, awards, honors
- Standardized test scores
- Performance-based assessments in the core content areas
- Observation and/or interview
- a portfolio of student works for the visual arts program
- What happens if a child is not identified for Quest?
- The classroom teacher may ask the gifted education specialist to work with the student if there is a need for enrichment and/or acceleration in a specific academic area. The student also may be referred for the identification process during the next academic school year.
- How are identified students served?
- The program is one of academic and/or artistic need. Services emphasize differentiated curricula that may be provided by flexible and cluster grouping of students, pull-out classes with gifted education specialists, extended classes, advanced level classes, and/or special programs. Students are challenged with instructional strategies that focus on academic development, creativity, and higher-level thinking skills.
- Does Quest identification follow my child through Walker, Buford, and CHS?
- Absolutely. Once students are identified for the program, they are eligible for services that meet their educational needs.
- If a child is transferring in from another school district and was identified in that division, are they automatically placed in our gifted program?
- Because criteria for identification vary from one school division to another, every new student must go through Charlottesville’s identification procedure. Gifted education specialists will work with students and their parents to make the transition as smooth as possible.
- Which students work with Talent Development (TD) teachers?
- Twice a week TD teachers lead whole-class lessons that are literature based and focus on developing students’ critical and creative thinking skills. They also work with individuals and small groups of students to build background knowledge, support independent learning, and address students’ specific academic needs.
- Which students work with gifted education specialists?
- Gifted education specialists tailor their services to meet the needs of the students and teachers at their schools. At times specialists work with all students in a classroom as they introduce a new concept or extend the regular curriculum. At other times, specialists provide services for high ability learners that integrate with the general education program. Classroom teachers and gifted education specialists together plan and provide a variety of learning experiences geared to the particular needs of different groups of learners.
- How are gifted students served in grades K-8?
- The Quest collaboration model supports a continuum of gifted services for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. It is designed to strengthen direct services for gifted learners and to enhance the quality of instruction offered to all students. Gifted education specialists collaborate with classroom teachers to design differentiated lessons that challenge students to learn at a faster rate, think on a higher level, and/or study sophisticated and complex content through extensions of the regular curriculum.
- How are gifted students served at Charlottesville High School?
- High school gifted students can choose from a variety of offerings, including honors and advanced placement classes. Course offerings emphasize differentiated instruction, specialized programs, and the use of strategies designed especially to raise levels of thinking and learning.
- How are Quest students placed in advanced level classes?
- After a comprehensive evaluation of achievement data, grades, and teacher recommendations, the school recommends qualified students for advanced level classes. Quest identification is not a factor in the decision.
- How can parents become involved in the Quest Program?
- Parents are encouraged to participate at the school level by contacting the gifted education specialist. In addition, parents are represented by the Quest Advisory Committee, which is comprised of parents from each school, school personnel, community members, and school board representatives. This committee represents the families of identified students and works to improve the program.