Gifted & Talented Services

Parents/ Guardians of current Grades K-7 students attending Franklin Lakes Public Schools,
The District is beginning preparations for the 2026-27 Gifted & Talented Screening Process. Any parent/ guardian who wishes to share supplemental information about currently registered students (2025-26 school year) may do so through the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/Hbmee5rBH2H3h7WGA.

Completion of this is optional, confidential, and takes approximately 30 minutes.

The form opens December 12, 2025. The FINAL Due Date to submit this is 5:00 PM on FRIDAY, January 9, 2026.

FLPS GIFTED & TALENTED SERVICES

Gifted & Talented (G&T) services are designed for those students who “possess or demonstrate a high level of ability in one or more content areas when compared to their chronological peers in the school district and who require modifications to their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities” (NJAC.18A:35-35).

Our mission is to facilitate student learning, achievement, and development in accordance with a learner’s abilities via appropriate standards-based extensions, enrichment opportunities, and challenges aligned with the student’s instructional level. The curriculum framework is based on the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and is designed to provide appropriate challenges to intellectually and academically advanced learners.

Gifted & Talented services aspire to support identified students in meeting their potential by:

Fostering self-reflective, analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in alignment with students’ instructional levels and the NJSLS;
Improving and enhancing students’ ability to think in novel or divergent ways;
Addressing the social and emotional needs of students with giftedness;
Deepening student learning and facilitating growth;
Expanding student interests, perseverance, and performance in an atmosphere where individual strengths and uniqueness are acknowledged and celebrated;
Providing time for students to meet and interact with similar-ability peers.

CONTINUUM of G&T SERVICES

Our continuum of services are designed to address the needs of identified students by appropriately matching services with needs. Services are developed in accordance with Policy 2464 Gifted & Talented, New Jersey Administrative Code, Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act, and with consideration of the National Association for Gifted Children.

IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES for G&T SERVICES

Our identification process incorporates evidence-based practices outlined by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and relevant empirical research. The eligibility criteria include multiple valid and reliable quantitative and qualitative measures to identify high ability and high potential in students.

A variety of assessments and instruments (e.g., state-standardized assessments, commercially-developed standardized reasoning abilities assessments, and other district-administered assessments (diagnostic, benchmark, creativity, rating scales, etc.) are used annually to provide educators with an understanding of a student's performance and may contribute to a body of evidence identifying a need for G&T services. This process typically occurs in late spring.

Parent Input / Referrals

Ahead of the formal G&T identification process for the subsequent school year, which typically occurs in the late spring, parents/ guardians are invited to submit optional rating scales and/ or supplemental information about their child on an annual basis.

An e-blast will be sent notifying parent/s guardians that Rating Scales are open for optional completion in late Fall/ early Winter each year.

2025-26 Notification of Service Eligibility to Parents/ Guardians

At the end of the summer, parents/ guardians of identified students will receive notification of eligibility for services via Genesis Parent Portal in coordination with the release of September class placements and schedules.

We invite you to review our 2025-26 Gifted & Talented Services Handbook for detailed information about G&T Services, Identification, and other information.

Gifted & Talented Definitions (New Jersey Administrative Code)

"Gifted and talented students" means students who possess or demonstrate high levels of ability in one or more content areas when compared to their chronological peers in the local school district and who require modifications of their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities. [N.J.A.C. 6A:8-1.3]

"Instructional adaptation" means an adjustment or modification to instruction enabling students with disabilities, ELLs, or students in alternative education programs or who are gifted and talented to participate in, benefit from, and/or demonstrate knowledge and application of the NJSLS.

Questions, Comments, Concerns about G&T Services / Identification or Complaints

Contacts:

K-5 G&T Specialist, Ms. Stacia Mascharka: [email protected]
6-8 G&T Specialist, Ms. Darlene Marte: [email protected]

18A:35-38 – Complaint for Non-Compliance
An individual who believes that a school district has not complied with the provisions of this act (18A:35 – Article 5 – Gifted and Talented Education Programs) may file a complaint with the Board of Education (see form).

Gifted and Talented Complaint Form

Gifted Education: Additional Resources & Links

National

New Jersey

NJ Department of Education: Gifted & Talented
Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act. (2020). (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-34 through N.J.S.A. 18A:35-39)
C.18A:35-26.1 Guidance on identifying English language learners for gifted and talented programs
New Jersey Association for Gifted Children