Spectra: Francis Howell's Gifted Program
Commonly Asked Questions

What is Spectra and what is its purpose?

Spectra is a pullout program at the elementary level developed to meet the unique educational needs of the intellectually gifted children in our school district. The students are given a greater responsibility for their own learning, and have the opportunity to interact with intellectual peers. Special emphasis is placed on the development of critical and creative thinking skills such as problem solving, originality, planning, and flexibility. The middle school students are assigned to Spectra as an elective. At the high school level students may choose to “drop-in” to the Spectra room or take the Spectra class as one of their electives for credit.

How are children identified as candidates for Spectra?

There are five levels involved in entering the Spectra program. They are as follows: Recommendation, Referral, Screening, Testing, and Selection.

What are the identification and selection procedures for Spectra students?

• The referral process begins with a letter to parents explaining the program and selection criteria. Parents are encouraged to call the building facilitator if they have questions. Please see Student Identification section for details.

Are students permanently placed in the program?

Students are permanently placed in the program. A student may wish to go on inactive status. Inactive status means the student may drop out of the program during the course of the school year. If a student wishes to go on inactive status, he/she may re-enter the program at the beginning of the following year. Parents are encouraged to conference with the Spectra facilitator before choosing this option.

When will Spectra classes for the school year begin?

District elementary programs are to begin one week after the school year begins and may end one week before the end of the same year. Middle School and High school students begin the first day of school.

How many students are in the Spectra program?

Spectra is a state-assisted program and therefore must follow the guidelines set by the Missouri Department of Gifted Education. The state will allow school districts to place up to 5% of their total student population into a gifted program.

How often do Spectra classes meet?

Students come to Spectra with other students from their grade level at regularly scheduled times, approximately 150 – 240 minutes per week at the elementary level. Classroom teachers are sensitive to the unique educational needs of gifted children and in many cases will modify assignments in lieu of the time spent away from the regular classroom.

What kinds of things do students learn about in Spectra?

The program provides extension activities for identified gifted students in the areas of Research, Communication, Problem Solving, and the Affective Domain. Students will work on concept-based units, which include research, communication, and problem solving skills. Throughout the year students participate in activities and discussions to meet their affective needs.