GATE (Gifted and Talented Education)
Stanford's GATE Magnet Program
Stanford has a Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)/Accelerated magnet program. The GATE/Accelerated population is comprised of pupils from both the Stanford area of residence and across the Long Beach Unified School District. GATE/Accelerated teachers implement a rigorous and challenging instructional program for their pupils. Students in these sections receive differentiated instruction, which means they receive the same standards-based curriculum as other students, but at a deeper and more challenging level. GATE teachers who are certified receive 45 hours of initial training in strategies that are useful for meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of gifted learners. Teachers implement these strategies into the core curriculum to challenge students to reach their full potential. Once certified, teachers receive ongoing professional development in order to stay current with best practices in the field. In addition, Stanford's GATE/Accelerated program coordinator meets regularly with instructors of accelerated classes to discuss curriculum, differentiation, and interventions for struggling students.
Stanford GATE students are highly sought after by high school accelerated programs including CAMS (California Academy of Math and Science), Poly PACE, Wilson Distinguished Scholars, and Millikan Quest. Due to their training in middle school, transitions to these programs have been very successful.
GATE Identification
The process for GATE identification is implemented through the LBUSD GATE office. Placement of students at Stanford is a district decision. Each winter, Stanford and other middle and K-8 schools provide parent information nights to assist families with the middle school application process. Once students are placed here, GATE identified students are placed into accelerated sections. In addition, high achieving students, as evidenced by scores on SBAC tests as well as academic grades, may be "clustered" into accelerated sections. For more information, please contact the GATE office.
Helpful Books and Resources
The Gifted Teen Survival Guide: Smart, Sharp, and Ready for (Almost) Anything (Revised & Updated 4th Edition) by Judy Galbraith, M.A. and Jim Delisle.
A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children by Webb, Gore, Amend, and DeVries.
5 Levels of Gifted: School Issues and Educational Options by Deborah Ruf, PhD.
Living With Intensity: Understanding the Sensitivity, Excitability, and the Emotional Development of Gifted Children, Adolescents, and Adults by Susan Daniels (ed.) and Michael M. Piechowski (ed.)
