Greater Brunswick Charter School Gifted and Talented

Home Academics Gifted and Talented

Gifted and Talented

Gifted & Talented
Go to top

Program Overview

In accordance with the New Jersey Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act (P.L. 2019, c. 338), Greater Brunswick Charter School is committed to identifying and providing equitable access to services for students who demonstrate outstanding levels of ability in one or more content areas compared to their chronological peers. We provide necessary instructional adaptations and modifications to ensure these learners achieve in accordance with their high capabilities through Gifted Adaptation Plans (GAP).

Student Identification Process & Multiple Measures

Our school uses a comprehensive screening process across all grade levels (K–8) to ensure equitable access. In alignment with NJ Department of Education Best Practices, we look at the whole child and do not use any single assessment to disqualify a student. The identification process includes consideration of all students, including multilingual learners and twice-exceptional students (those with an IEP, 504 plan, or ML).

We utilize multiple measures to match a student's needs with appropriate services:

Objective Measures: Benchmark data, rubrics, historical Academic performance.
Subjective Measures: Teacher observations, student portfolios, and performance products.

Eligibility & Review Timelines

Universal Screening Window: October
Data Review & Determination: November
Parent Notifications: Sent home by November

Continuum of Services & Instructional Adaptations

GBCS provides a robust continuum of programming designed to deliver instructional adaptations at each student's true learning level. Grounded in National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) standards, our framework includes classroom differentiation, flexible pacing, and compacted curricula.

Public Accountability & Complaint Process

Board of Trustees Policy: Gifted and Talented Complaint and Grievance Procedure

Policy Number: 2464

Statutory Authority: N.J.S.A. 18A:35-34 through 18A:35-39; P.L. 2019, c. 338

1. Purpose and Legal Authority

Greater Brunswick Charter School is committed to providing equitable access to appropriate gifted and talented identification, programming, and instructional adaptations for eligible students in accordance with the New Jersey Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act.

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:35-38, any individual who believes that Greater Brunswick Charter School has not complied with the provisions of the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act may file a written complaint with the Board of Trustees. The Board shall issue a written decision to affirm, reject, or modify the school's action.

The complaint process described below is intended to provide an orderly opportunity for concerns to be addressed at the school level while preserving an individual's statutory right to file a formal complaint with the Board.

2. Informal School-Level Review

Before filing a formal complaint with the Board, individuals are encouraged, but not required, to seek resolution at the school level.

Because the Education Director serves as the school's Gifted and Talented Coordinator, concerns regarding gifted and talented identification, services, instructional adaptations, or implementation of a student's Gifted Adaptation Plan (GAP) may be submitted directly to the Education Director/Gifted and Talented Coordinator.

Concerns should be submitted in writing and should include, when applicable:

The student's name and grade;
A description of the concern;
The specific gifted and talented service, identification decision, or instructional adaptation at issue;
Relevant information or documentation supporting the concern; and
The requested resolution, if known.

The Education Director/Gifted and Talented Coordinator will acknowledge receipt of the concern within five (5) school days and will review the matter with appropriate staff, which may include classroom teachers, instructional staff, and other school personnel as appropriate.

The school will provide a written response within ten (10) school days of receipt of the concern, whenever practicable. If additional time is necessary to review the matter, the Education Director/Gifted and Talented Coordinator will notify the individual in writing and provide an anticipated response date.

Participation in the informal school-level review is voluntary and does not limit or delay an individual's right to file a formal complaint with the Board of Trustees pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:35-38.

3. Formal Complaint to the Board of Trustees

An individual may file a formal complaint directly with the Board of Trustees without first participating in the informal school-level review.

A formal complaint shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Trustees through the Board Secretary/Business Administrator and should include sufficient information for the Board to understand and investigate the allegation.

The complaint should include:

The complainant's full name and contact information;
The student's name and grade, when applicable;
A clear description of the alleged noncompliance with the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act;
The specific facts and circumstances supporting the allegation;
Relevant dates and documentation, when available; and
The specific gifted and talented identification, service, instructional adaptation, or other action that is alleged to be inconsistent with the Act.
Complaints should be limited to alleged noncompliance with the provisions of the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act.

The complaint should be submitted to:

Board Secretary/Business Administrator
Greater Brunswick Charter School
429 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
mfalkowski@sboffice.com

The Board Secretary/Business Administrator shall acknowledge receipt of the complaint and refer the matter to the Head of School or other appropriate designee for investigation, except when a conflict of interest or other circumstance requires an alternative investigator.

4. Investigation and Board Decision

Upon receipt of a formal complaint, the school administration or designated investigator shall review the allegations and relevant records and may consult with appropriate school personnel.

The investigation may include review of:

Student academic and assessment data;
Teacher observations and instructional records;
Student portfolios or performance products;
Gifted and Talented screening and identification records;
Gifted Adaptation Plans;
Documentation of instructional adaptations and services; and
Other information relevant to the allegation.

The individual who filed the complaint will be provided an opportunity to submit relevant information or documentation.

Following the investigation, the matter will be presented to the Board of Trustees for consideration.

The Board of Trustees shall issue a written decision that affirms, rejects, or modifies the school's action, consistent with N.J.S.A. 18A:35-38.

The written decision shall be provided to the complainant and maintained in accordance with applicable school records requirements.

5. Timelines

The following timelines apply to the school's internal process:

Stage	Timeline
Written informal concern submitted to Education Director/G&T Coordinator	As needed
Acknowledgment of informal concern	Within 5 school days
Written school-level response	Within 10 school days, whenever practicable
Formal complaint to Board	May be submitted directly or after informal review
Board investigation	Initiated upon receipt of formal complaint
Board written decision	Within a reasonable period following completion of the investigation and Board review

The timelines above are intended to promote timely resolution and may be extended when additional information, records, consultation, or investigation is reasonably necessary. The complainant shall be notified when an extension is necessary.

Nothing in these informal timelines shall restrict an individual's statutory right to file a complaint with the Board pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:35-38.

6. State-Level Appeal

If an individual is dissatisfied with the Board's written decision, the individual may file a petition of appeal with the New Jersey Commissioner of Education through the Office of Controversies and Disputes, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:6-9 and applicable New Jersey Administrative Code provisions.

The New Jersey Department of Education specifically identifies N.J.A.C. 6A:3-1.3 and 1.4 as governing the appeal process.

Information regarding the Commissioner of Education's appeal process is available through the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Controversies and Disputes.

7. Protection of Student Rights

Nothing in this grievance procedure shall be interpreted to limit a student's right to receive appropriate educational services or instructional adaptations required by applicable law.

The school shall continue to implement appropriate gifted and talented services while a concern or complaint is under review, unless a change in services is determined to be appropriate based upon the student's educational needs.

8. Public Availability

In accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:35-38 and 18A:35-39, Greater Brunswick Charter School shall make its gifted and talented policies, identification procedures, criteria, continuum of services, and applicable timelines publicly available on the school's website. The complaint procedure and the individual's right to file a complaint with the Board shall be included or linked with the school's gifted and talented information.

Greater Brunswick Charter School Established in 1998