RIVER VALE SCHOOLS

S.A.G.E. PROGRAM

The River Vale Public Schools recognize that every student deserves an education that is appropriate for his/her needs and that allows him/her to develop that potential to the greatest extent possible. It was with this concept in mind that a committee of parents, educators, and Board of Education members was formed in an effort to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the Gifted Education Program and to identify an instructional model for the purpose of program improvement. The Committee made recommendations for a multi-faceted educational design which affords all students opportunities for curriculum enrichment. The recommendations also included one gifted teacher for each building. The new program is titled S.A.G.E. This revised concept will be phased in over a two-year period and will not adversely affect students currently in the program. Newly identified students will be selected based on the rubric devised by professional staff.

The learning opportunities have been created not only for those students who exhibit outstanding abilities and are capable of high performance in creative/productive thinking, but also for the general school population. This idea is associated with the work of Joseph Renzulli, Sally M. Reis, and Howard Gardner. Renzulli and Reis formulated the school-wide enrichment model to promote development of creative productivity in all students. Gardner developed the theory of multiple intelligences to stress the extensive range of abilities intrinsic in all individuals and to tap the inherent potential of all children within the learning environment. These two ideas complement each other, since both are meant to encourage the development of gifted behaviors and creativity in young people. The newly designed, two-tiered S.A.G.E. Program in grades K-8 is a direct result of the committee’s efforts to design a Gifted Education Program that will enhance the quality of education for all students through a combination of strategies including, but not limited to, differentiation, enrichment, and acceleration. Enrichment suggestions, in accordance with the Core Content Standards, will be located in the content area in the curriculum guide.