BPS Gifted Education

Bismarck Public Schools is committed to identifying and serving the unique needs of students with advanced learning abilities. Each of Bismarck’s elementary schools is staffed with at least one gifted education specialist. The specialists work together as a team, and in ongoing collaboration with classroom teachers, to identify student needs and develop a learning path that will maximize potential, support social-emotional growth, and nurture areas of interest.

Through enrichment, extended learning, and acceleration, students with advanced learning aptitude are engaged in appropriately challenging ways that stretch and grow their abilities, imagination, and academic achievement. Bismarck Gifted Education combines a nurturing of interests and curiosity, with challenging learning opportunities that advance and motivate students academically. Gifted Education specialists also provide information and support to parents on the unique needs of their students.

About Us

Beliefs

BPS Mission - “Empower every learner to thrive.”

Gifted Education Mission - Gifted Education empowers students to maximize growth and cultivate talent in academic and affective domains helping students reach their full potential.

Vision - Bismarck Public Schools believes that gifted students have unique learning and social/emotional needs. Gifted Education supports a challenging learning environment that focuses on growth for every gifted student, as well as meets their unique social and emotional needs through a collaborative partnership between staff, students, and families.

“Students with gifts and talents perform - or have the capability to perform - at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment in one or more domains. They require modification(s) to their educational experience(s) to learn and realize their potential.”

North Dakota DPI Best Practices for Gifted Education

Bismarck Public Schools believes that each child has a need to be challenged at an appropriate level. Gifted Education provides research-based interventions that promote challenging opportunities at an appropriate level. Because education is preparation for life, Gifted Education believes all individuals need opportunities to find strength in the face of challenges.

K-12 Acceleration Overview

Elementary: The acceleration process may be initiated by a teacher, a parent or guardian, the student, or a staff member. At that time, a team will determine next steps in the acceleration process. Gifted Ed students are primarily identified in Grades 3-5. See Referral Process tab for more information.

Middle: Grade level acceleration is predominantly identified at the elementary level. The acceleration process may be initiated by a teacher, a parent or guardian, the student, or a staff member. At that time, a team will determine next steps in the acceleration process. Middle school can support subject level acceleration in math.

High: Many opportunities to advance a student’s education are available through course offerings, Dual Credit, and Advanced Placement(AP). Prerequisites for upper level courses, ACT, and Accuplacer may be used when registering for classes. Registration guides, located in each building’s website, layout courses available and needed prerequisites

Gifted Education Services

Gifted Education Referral Process

The following assessment data determines gifted education programming eligibility for third, fourth, and fifth graders to receive intense, individualized instruction with a gifted education specialist:

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
- At least 3 out of the last 4 scores are greater than or equal to the 95th%ile
AimswebPlus
- Math: Concepts and Applications (CA) score is greater than or equal to the 95th%ile
- Reading: Vocabulary (VOC) score is greater than or equal to the 95th%ile
Grade Level Standard Scores in Reading and/or Math
- Composite of the previous year’s scores is 3.0 or above
North Dakota State Assessment (NDSA)
- Advanced score

Please contact your child's building principal with any questions regarding the gifted program.