Enhanced Learning Program (Gifted)

Program Overview

hands holding a grad acceptance letter

The Queen Creek Enhanced Learning Program (ELP) is designed to meet the educational needs of students in K–12 who have been identified as gifted, or scoring 97% or above on aptitude tests. This program strives to:

  • reflect unique abilities, interests, and talents of each child;
  • develop higher order thinking skills;
  • increase growth of the entire child; and
  • refine critical and divergent thinking skills.

Gifted Education

  • Queen Creek Unified School District believes that each classroom holds students who show potential for performing at high levels compared to others of their same age, experience, or environment. These students deserve differentiated instruction to achieve their full potential while supporting their unique social and emotional needs that is common among gifted learners. We expect that within the QCUSD district, gifted students will acquire higher levels of thinking—to apply and synthesize knowledge to new situations, to organize thoughts, and give value to new and challenging ideas.
  • Students who we identify as gifted have services available to them throughout their time in the Queen Creek Unified School District. These tailored experiences provide support to students as they develop into an independent learner. Our programs provide a safe environment for gifted students to learn from failure, evaluate their own efforts, and develop a love of learning in their path to become responsible and productive citizens.
  • For more information, contact the gifted specialist at your child’s school.

Introduction
Instructional Goals
Delivery Models
Gifted Referral Procedures and Eligibility Requirements

Testing and Program Admittance

While students can be identified as early as kindergarten, it is highly recommended that initial testing for gifted is done in second grade. Primary students often find the assessment daunting as they are not acclimated to standardized testing. Additionally, primary grades are when students develop core foundational and social skills. These skills ensure a student’s future academic success. Second through fifth grade students can be tested during one of the three testing windows.

  • Testing Window 1: Early September
  • Testing Window 2: Mid December
  • Testing Window 3: Early May

Referral forms are available at each elementary school. For additional ELP/Gifted testing information, please contact the school counselor.

To inquire about having your child tested for the Gifted Program or to get more information, please email the staff at the school your child attends. 

Gifted Teachers

Dr. Seth Kaesler
Desert Mountain Elementary
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Jamie Glen
Frances Brandon Pickett Elementary/Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary
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Kalle Cushing
Gateway Polytechnic Academy
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Desiree Graham
Jack Barnes Elementary/Silver Valley Elementary
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Crystal Talmadge
Queen Creek Elementary/Schnepf Elementary
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