Philosophy
The philosophy of Scranton Schools is built on a fundamental belief in serving the needs of all our
students as unique individuals. We believe that gifted and talented individuals have special
characteristics and learning styles and that their potential for accomplishment is such that they
require special provisions, experiences, and services not provided for in the regular instructional
program.
We are committed to provide a program for identifying and meeting the needs and interests of our
gifted and talented students. The identification and placement of these gifted and talented
students will be based on documented objective and subjective evidence of above average
intellectual ability, creative ability, and task commitment and motivation.
Gifted and talented students are outstanding consumers and producers of knowledge and ideas in
any worthwhile endeavor. They may have potential abilities in general intelligence, creative, or
productive thinking, exceptional leadership, and specific aptitudes. These abilities must be
cultivated, nurtured, and developed.
Gifted and talented students must be provided opportunities to interact with their peers and to
work with materials which challenge their abilities and encourage them to expand their abstract
thinking and reasoning abilities.
Maximizing the potential of gifted and talented students requires a commitment of school,
community, and home; commitment is essential for progress to be actualized. The gifted and
talented program is designed to cultivate within the student a desire for excellence and a sense of
productive responsibility to self, family, school, community, and to our changing society.
Gifted and Talented Program Overview
The Scranton School District continues to offer a program in grades kindergarten through twelve
for those students who have been identified as having needs above and beyond what the
curriculum in the regular classroom offers. The major goal of the school district is to respond in
significant ways to the unique needs and characteristics of these students. Support from
administration, parents, and community contributes to reaching this goal.