Curriculum and Instruction : Gifted Program : Twice Exceptional

The Twice Exceptional program at Zuni Elementary School is
a new program in the Scottsdale Unified School District.

This class is open to students who are identified as both gifted and learning disabled. Twice exceptional students are those students who meet a two-pronged test. The first prong is qualification for gifted programming (the equivalent of 97% or above on any aspect of the Cognitive Abilities Test or any other equivalent test as delineated by the State of Arizona). The second prong is eligibility for special education under one or more of the federally determined criteria.

The program is open for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, in a multi-age setting, who meet these criteria. The maximum class size is 8, and it is taught by a certified Special Education teacher who has a gifted endorsement from the State of Arizona and a full time instructional assistant.

Because of the small size of the class, emphasis of instruction is on the areas of students' strengths. By accessing students' abilities, other skills can be learned in areas that require more intensive assistance. The classroom becomes a safe place for students to demonstrate their abilities and increase their confidence to tackle their challenges. Not only academic skills are taught, but students' social and emotional needs are also addressed.

For more information, please contact our Gifted Services office: 480-484-2833