The continuum of services is vital because, ideally, you should be able to match the program to the student. In reality, you have to work within the parameters set by the school district based on state requirements and mandates. As a result, you cannot choose a program that does not exist in your school.
On the EP you will notice several choices of types of services and where the qualifying student will receive those services. Many times they range from a full time, self contained, grade level gifted program to a specific hourly consultation model.
The self-contained model speaks for itself. Depending on the number of gifted students in a particular grade level, a school may have a classroom dedicated to gifted only or gifted and high achievers (based on criteria determined by the individual school district, but usually connected to FCAT scores and student performance). The class is facilitated by a gifted endorsed teacher who uses the grade level curriculum as the foundation and then proceeds to differentiate and incorporate other gifted strategies to meet the needs of the students and the goals of the EP.
Part-time programs are another model in the continuum of services. These programs are either curriculum-based or designed around enrichment projects. Depending on the school setting and the number of identified gifted children, the classes can be for a single grade level or multi-leveled. For example, some programs meet everyday for two hours, while others meet twice a week for a full day.
A third option may be gifted consultation. In this program the classroom general education teacher works closely with the gifted endorsed teacher who comes in to the classroom to work with the gifted children. This teacher assists the classroom teacher in developing differentiated curriculum based on the lesson plans and content for the week.
Many times the district generates the EP forms to accommodate the needs of all the schools. In some counties, the schools determine which type(s) of services they will offer. Based on the continuum of services offered by your individual school or district, the specific needs of the child, and consensus amongst the committee members at the placement staffing, you will check the appropriate box on the EP.