Fruchthendler is piloting a school wide cluster program this year to offer GATE services to
all students in all classrooms. Over the past several years, we have expanded GATE services
so that all of our teachers are providing cluster services (gifted qualifying students
clustered in a classroom with regular education students taught by a GATE endorsed
teacher).
The school-wide model is a popular trend in gifted education because it supports current
implementations such as professional learning communities and shared resources among
grade levels. This model focuses on placing a cluster of gifted students in each class with a
focus on differentiation to meet their needs. It promotes a diverse group of learners, which
allows both qualifying and regular education students to benefit from gifted services.
Because teachers are all gifted endorsed (or working toward endorsement), they are able
to successfully implement critical thinking, creative thinking, problem solving and other
gifted strategies for all students.
This school wide GATE cluster model will include additional benefits such as:
 GATE school wide resources such as literacy kits, critical thinking resources, and
enrichment materials
 GATE professional development and study group options for teachers new to the
site who are working towards their endorsement
 Push-in GATE critical thinking lessons from the GATE Itinerant teacher
 Modeling support for teachers who are new to the site working towards their gifted
endorsement
At the end of the 19-20 SY, this program will be evaluated to assess its success. The
following criteria will be reviewed with the GATE department, Fruchthendler principal,
ALE director, Asst. Superintendent for Fruchthendler’s region, and the Desegregation
Department.
1. Fruchthendler will maintain a staff which has a majority of teachers either
provisionally or permanently gifted endorsed
2. New teachers will agree to actively work towards their gifted endorsement and to
teach gifted strategies in their classroom.
3. Fruchthendler will cluster their students so that most teachers have a cluster of
GATE students in their classroom in order to provide equitable gifted services to a
diverse group of students. Kindergarten teachers do not have qualifying students
but will teach gifted strategies to all students.