The 2009-2010 school year will bring some changes to the look of the Torrance Unified School District’s GATE program. First and foremost, classroom based services will still be in place. TUSD has always had an embedded GATE program with instruction differentiated for GATE students when appropriate to either the student or subject specific content. Teachers are aware of students’ GATE designations for both newly identified students and those students in the GATE program for several years.
What has changed this year is the availability of evening and/or Saturday enrichment events typically held at a central District location. The state budget crisis has placed GATE in the Tier 3 funding category, allowing the use of GATE funds to be used to support the needs of the general fund. We therefore will not be able to conduct any District level GATE enrichment sessions during the 2009-2010 school year.
School sites have been encouraged to facilitate GATE parent groups in order to create enrichment opportunities on an informal level. For the past few years, several elementary schools have had active GATE parent groups. At some sites parents agree to a monthly activity and meet informally at a predetermined location such as a museum or zoo. At other sites, parent volunteers offer periodic enrichment classes based on the talents the parents bring forth. One example of this is a computer software class offered by two parents employed in software design. These sessions are typically held after school. Whatever parent involvement your site may support is strictly up to your principal and the interest and dedication of the GATE parents.
We will be posting school enrichment ideas on this web site in an attempt to exchange information. Also listed on the web site will be materials that can be checked-out by school sites to support a site-based activity. For example, we have Euro board games that may be checked out for a “Smart Game” session.
Another valuable asset available on the web site will be parent enrichment ideas. Each month we will post a new activity which parents can use to advance the rigor of what might normally be a typical Saturday outing. These enrichment events were widely popular with our GATE families last year.
If you have questions pertaining to GATE services, please contact your site principal. Each school is unique in many positive ways, thus making your principal the individual most knowledgeable of how your school site can best meet the needs of your child.
