Gifted youth classes to move to Adler Park

Fourth- and fifth-graders in Libertyville schools who qualify for gifted math, reading and language arts will go to school full time at one building -- Adler Park School -- beginning in the 2008-2009 school year.

Some parents voiced concern about disrupting the neighborhood school philosophy at a recent meeting hosted by administrators and teachers.

But Kathy Schwarz, director of curriculum and instruction for Libertyville Elementary District 70, said the change will only impact 15 to 30 students each year and will best serve the children's needs.

"We went into it with the burden of what is best for this type of learner," she said.

Over the past two years, administrators created tighter screening procedures to better identify the top 5 percent of the student body, Schwarz said. The procedures trimmed the gifted program and left some classes with only a handful of students.

District officials determined the small classes did not benefit the students and wasn't fiscally responsible.

Starting next school year, there will be one fourth-grade and one fifth-grade class at Adler because it is the smallest school with the most space in the district.

Gifted students will be taught math, reading and language arts in gifted classrooms. They will join other classmates for social studies, science, physical education, music, lunch and recess.

Art classes will be geared to gifted education by combining fourth- and fifth-grade gifted students into one class.

The new program follows research that shows gifted children perform well when they take classes with other gifted students and share classes with their peers, Schwarz said.

Also next year, the gifted program will expand to offer opportunities to third-grade students at the four elementary schools.

Third-graders identified as gifted will receive extra attention during class from a gifted teacher who floats among the schools.

To prepare for the transition, the district will offer social and emotional support for the students. If needed, the students will be able to talk in the classroom about the change, how it feels to be at a new school and what they need to help them cope.