Project IDEA

• Cindy Osterland

Project IDEA has been developed for academically talented students in grades four through eight who meet established District criteria on the Cognitive Abilities Test, the Iowa Test of Basic Skill and teacher observational data. A matrix is used, with a student needing 10 points out of a possible 18 points to qualify for placement in the program. The program is offered at all fourteen elementary schools and at all five junior high schools.

Students participate in a literacy class which meets five days per week during the students' regularly scheduled literacy block. Approximately 40% of the instructional time is spent on traditional gifted activities involving creative and critical problem solving and 60% on the literacy strands of reading, writing, listening and speaking aligned with District 203 Literacy Learner Outcomes. The program seeks to develop, through integration of curriculum, the higher level thinking skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation as delineated in Bloom's Taxonomy.

For description and information on program click on the District 203 link below.

District 203 Project IDEA Program