NPS Gifted Goals
Frontiers will be staffed by faculty currently in
• To increase the number
of students identified
gifted across all subgroups
• To ensure that identified
students receive the
services needed to reach
their full potential
• To increase the
percentage of gifted
students scoring passed
advanced on the SOLs by
10% during the 2017-
2018 school year
• To increase the
percentage of gifted
students scoring greater
than 3 on the Advance
Placement exams in all
subjects of the College
Board assessment
Staffing
each school. Teachers wishing to participate
will submit a course proposal. Student interest
surveys will drive enrichment course content.
Each school’s gifted resource teacher GRT will
serve as liaison between the school and the
Frontiers
An Enrichment Program for
Gifted Education department. The GRT will
Gifted and High-Ability Students
work with a committee comprised of multiple
stakeholders to approve courses (based on
student interest and choice) and create
schedules.
References
Plucker, J., Glynn, J., Healey, G., & Dettmer,
A. (2018). Equal talents, unequal
opportunity: A report card on state
support for academically talented low-
income students. Lansdowne, VA: Jack
Kent Cooke Foundation.
Renzulli, J. S., & Reis, S. M. (1985). The
schoolwide enrichment model: A
comprehensive plan for educational
excellence. Mansfield Center, CT: Creative
Learning Press.
Contact:
Patty Costis, PhD
Newtown Public Schools
pcostis@newtownschools.com Patty Costis, PhD
Program Overview
Frontiers is an extended-day enrichment
program designed to meet the needs of
high-achieving students in a culturally and
economically diverse southeastern Virginia
school district. Modeled after the
Schoolwide Enrichment Program (Renzulli,
Funding
Frontiers will be made possible through a
Gates Foundation Networks for School
Improvement Grant. Grant requirements
mandate a program to include at least 10
schools. Newtown Public Schools serves
44 schools eligible to participate in the
Target Audience
Frontiers is designed for gifted and high
ability/high achieving students.
Students in grades 2-12 who are
performing in the top 15% of their
respective grade levels will be invited to
apply for Frontiers. For elementary and

1985), Frontiers offers gifted and high Frontiers program. The NSI grant is middle school students, benchmark tests,

targeted at improving schools serving student work and recommendations

ability students access to challenging
determine acceptance. For students in
curricula in their areas of interest, as well minority and economically disadvantaged
grades 9-12, overall GPA will be used to
as much-needed time with their intellectual students. The grant proposal requires the
determine the top 15% of each grade level.
peers. cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic
In addition, student work and
make-up of the student population,
recommendations will round out the
benchmark and standardized test scores, application process.
and projections of student outcomes.
Demographics
Virginia is ranked 47th in closing the Budget
excellence gap (Plucker, Glynn, Healey, &
Economically Disadvantaged
Dettmer 2018). Similar to the achievement The Frontiers operating is commensurate with Population Comparison
Gates NSI Grant funding.
gap, excellence gaps refer to gaps between
80 70.3
groups at high levels of achievement. Category Cost 60 37.9
Frontiers is proposed as one way to close Payroll- teachers $287,784 40
17.3
the excellence gap, and measure student 20
Payroll- Gifted Liaisons $63,312 0
growth in terms of excellence rather than Federal Tax $26,858 Percentage of Economically
proficiency. Disadvantaged Students
Transportation $113,400
Using local norms and an expanded view of Professional Development $546 NPS Total Population
giftedness, each school will offer a unique Instructional Supplies $3,000 VA Total Population
set of course offerings, tailored to meet the Assessment/Data $100 VA Gifted Population
academic needs and interests of its gifted (SY2016-2017)
Total $495,000
and high ability students.