School for gifted — Talented Provo students may get new center to call their own

PROVO — Crowding around a table, students fill beakers full of colored vegetable oil, corn syrup and water to see how the different ingredients settle. "Check out the different bubbles in that one," says Spencer Holman, 12, a sixth-grader at Westridge Elementary School.

It could be any science class. But these fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders start spouting off geometry formulas and excitedly discussing density, mass and volume. The children are in a class for gifted and talented students that takes them out of their regular classes for an hour a couple times a week.

This is one of myriad opportunities Provo City School District has for gifted and talented children. But the district is pitching a proposal to take it a step further: A separate school for gifted and talented students, with a math and science emphasis.

"These students will be able to go at a more appropriate pace for their learning," said Stacey Briggs, member of the Utah Association for Gifted Children Board.

If approved, the school would be called the Center for Accelerated Studies and would be located in a part of Grandview Elementary School, 1591 N. Jordan Ave., Provo. The school will close at the end of this school year, and most of the building is scheduled to be demolished.

Some space in the remaining section of Grandview Elementary would also be used for the district's professional development, including conferences and workshops. The district technology offices could also be housed there.

If approved, the center would house approximately 75 students and open this fall.

"It's something we've dreamed of and hoped for," said Angie Carter, president of the Provo Association of Gifted Children.

The school board discussed the proposal in a retreat last Friday and plans to hear a final presentation in March by Ray W. Morgan, Provo district assistant superintendent, director of learning, curriculum and assessment.

If district officials get the green light from the board, they will immediately launch the student application process. Using the State Office of Education gifted and talented criteria as a basis, the district aims to have a case study approach with multiple identifiers.

Applications would include scores from the Iowa test, as well as gifted and talented testing; and surveys from parents and teachers to identify characteristics of gifted and talented children. There could also be talent-based aspects, such as math and science expertise.

Attending the center would be voluntary. Students and parents would decide whether to apply. Teachers and principals could nominate students.