Dist. 101 studies ideas for gifted program

Although 2007 was a year of mixed results for the Batavia School District's Challenge program, board members expressed their support for the future of the program, which provides specialized instruction for gifted elementary and middle school students in math and language arts.

While students taking part in the Challenge program outscored their non-Challenge peers in the mathematics portion of the Illinois Standards Achievements Tests, results from the language arts portion were termed inconclusive.

Associate Superintendent Jan Wright presented an evaluation of the program, and also gave the board recommendations and their potential costs.

Wright said education funding cuts in previous years have hampered the program's development.

"Our budget has suffered, and we couldn't add staff," she said.

Overall, about 250 students take part in the program.

About 99.5 percent of third graders and 87 percent of fifth graders in the Challenge program exceeded state math standards on the ISAT, compared to 96 percent of third graders and 71 percent of fifth graders not in the Challenge program.

In language arts, 85 percent of third graders and 90 percent of fifth graders in the Challenge program exceed state standards on the ISAT, versus 67 percent of third graders and 75.5 percent of fifth graders not in the program.

"In this program, we are determining how to best meet the needs of higher ability students whose needs can't be met by a teacher in a regular classroom setting," Wright said.

Challenge students receive separate instruction during a portion of the school day.

The program has suffered from a general lack of awareness among teachers, school administrators and parents, Wright said.

Among other things, she recommends adding four teachers, acquiring improved language arts resources, improving communication between teachers and parents, and greater program information for teachers and staff.

Wright estimated that implementing those recommendations would cost the district about $250,000, with most of that for the additional teachers.

Board member Matthew Winkle expressed support for the Challenge program while questioning its cost.

"We have to be realistic. We have to be able to fund this within our budget. We can't just look at it in a vacuum. We'll have to cut other programs if it's that important," Winkle said.

"If it is important to us, we need to find the money," board member Kathleen Roberts said.