LUSD Continues to Enhance GATE Programs

The Lynwood Unified School District is adding new afterschool enrichment activities to its menu of educational programs in order to enhance instruction for elementary school students in the District’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program.

Beginning in March, all 12 LUSD elementary schools will present “STEP UP TO S.T.E.A.M,” a program featuring workshops in the subject areas of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. During two, four-week sessions, students have the opportunity to participate in hands-on workshops focusing on NASA’s newest rockets and robots, engineering, GREEN technology and more.

“These workshops will present project-based learning in a variety of subject areas so that our students can participate in fun activities that challenge them, stimulate their imagination and help them develop critical thinking skills,” said LUSD Superintendent Paul Gothold.

The District’s GATE program aims to present instruction that supports the intellectual potential of students, which is achieved by clustering pre-identified students to ensure they receive challenging instruction and opportunities based on their strengths.

“Despite the fact that the state has cut funding for GATE programs, I’m happy to say that Lynwood Unified has made it a priority to continue to support GATE and provide a challenging learning environment for our gifted students,” said LUSD Board of Education President  Briseida Gonzalez. “It is our mission to provide differentiated instruction for each and every student in Lynwood Unified, no matter their educational level or program.

In recent years, Lynwood Unified has refined its program to ensure that students are effectively identified and that teachers are equipped with the tools necessary to best serve this student population. In 2012, the District contracted with USC’s Dr. Sandra Kaplan, co-author of California’s GATE plan, to provide training for teachers at every elementary and middle school.

In the past, Lynwood Unified had identified students for GATE solely on the recommendation of teachers. Beginning in 2011, all District students were tested in the third grade for entry into the program. Students in fourth grade and higher may be referred for GATE testing by a parent, teacher, or other District staff.

“We want to make sure that students participate in programs that meet their individual needs,” said LUSD Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Gudiel Crosthwaite. “By testing all third-graders, we’re increasing our ability to identify high-achieving students who can benefit from this differentiated instruction.”

The interests of GATE students are used to determine a variety of activities within and outside of the traditional school day.

Elementary and middle school students have the opportunity to enroll in additional elective offerings based on their academic achievement. Additional enrichment activities, which are also open to students not enrolled in the GATE program, include Pentathlon, MESA, theatre, mathathon, spelling bees and science fairs. 

All high school students, including those who are GATE-identified, also have the opportunity to enroll in numerous AP courses and enrichment activities including engineering, Decathalon, MESA, Mock Trial, Journalism, Yearbook, school leadership and music. 

“Our philosophy is that these programs and activities will help our students reach their academic potential and create more opportunities for intellectual peer interaction,” Gothold said.

For more information on the District’s GATE program, visit www.lynwood.k12.ca.us/departments-es-gate-gate.