Where am I?
REACH Challenge Class
The REACH challenge
classes are designed for students who demonstrate
exceptionally advanced abilities in critical thinking,
problem solving, creativity and general knowledge as well as
a rapid rate of acquiring new skills and knowledge. These
students require specially designed learning experiences
which specifically challenge their unique styles of
acquiring, understanding, applying and expanding new skills
and concepts.
Eligibility
Referral Process
All students are considered in the REACH screening process. Classroom teachers observe students' classroom performance for signs of giftedness. A portfolio of student work and performance is collected which includes evidence of high-level academic achievement as well as well as creativity, advanced problem solving, reasoning and critical thinking skills. The REACH Care Team will review this information to determine the appropriateness of further eligibility assessment.
Eligibility
Students must meet or exceed the established criteria in three of the four Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education required gifted eligibility areas which include:
1. Performance Documentation of gifted behaviors/characteristics
2. Creativity, reasoning, problem solving ability
3. Academic Ability
4. General mental ability
A variety of identification tools for accessing these four areas of giftedness will be used. Assessors will select assessment tools which best aceess a student's strengths and may include the use of non-traditional measures with students whose giftedness can not appropriately be assessed using standard assessment instruments due to assessment issues related to poverty, race, or disability.Once a student has qualified for REACH Challenge classes, he or she will not need to requalify annually in order to continue in the REACH Challenge Program.
