La Canada Unified
School District
GATE
Gifted and Talented Education
What is GATE?

The program provides challenging curriculum
and instruction to gifted and talented students in
California capable of achieving significantly
beyond the level of their peers.
 LCUSD operates a school-based, coordinated
program at its three elementary sites and its 712 campus. All students may qualify in various
ways throughout their school years.
How Do Students Qualify?
One way is with OLSAT

All third grade students whose parents grant
permission are tested in the spring using the
Otis-Lennon School Abilities Test. (OLSAT).
 The OLSAT is also administered to all new
students who enter the district in grades 4-8.
 Previously tested students may be retested after
two years.
What is the OLSAT?
(Otis –Lennon Abilities Test)
contains about 70 questions in a
multiple choice format
 It assesses students’ reasoning abilities,
not achievement or retention of facts
 OLSAT
OLSAT CONTENT

Verbal Comprehension
The ability to
perceive relational
aspects of words,
understand subtle
differences…
EX: antonyms,
sentence
arrangement
 Verbal
Reasoning
The ability to apply
inferences to new
situations, evaluate
conditions in order
to determine
necessary versus
optional…
EX: arithmetic
reasoning, logical
selection
 Figural
Reasoning
Assesses the ability
to use geometric
figures to infer
relationships,
perceive
progressions, and
predict next steps…
EX: figural analogies,
pattern matrices,
figural series
 Quantitative
Reasoning
Assesses the ability
to use numbers in
order to infer
relationships,
deduce
computational rules,
and predict
outcomes…
EX: number series,
numeric inferences
What Qualifies?
In LCUSD, a student qualifies if he or she is at the 98
percentile in total verbal and non-verbal
categories.
NOTE: The requirements for GATE vary from district to
district. Therefore, a student who qualified in another
district must be re-evaluated to participate in GATE in La
Canada.
Is There Another
Way to Qualify?
Yes. A student may qualify if he or she…

Scores 450 or above on both ELA and MATH in the
Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) and

Scores a 5 or 6 on the Spring District Writing
Assessment and
Scores 95% or above on the Spring District Math
Assessment

GATE Characteristics
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Curious, good memory
Masters content quickly
Is self-motivated
Uses Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)
Finishes work quickly
Good sense of humor
Thinks independently
Strong sense of justice
Another View
Common
Characteristics
Potential
Curious, good memory
Masters content
quickly
Is self-motivated
Uses HOTS
Finishes work quickly
Good sense of humor
Thinks independently
Impatient
Easily bored, perfectionist
Doesn’t work well in
groups
Forgets practical details
Work may be sloppy
Can be the class clown
Challenges authority
CHALLENGES
How Is School Different for a
GATE Student?
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In some ways, it is not different. That’s because the
foundation of California’s GATE program is differentiated
instruction.
In LCUSD all teachers have been extensively trained in
differentiation. Variable and flexible student groupings are
used. Curriculum pacing is examined and higher-order
thinking skills are evident. GATE and other students are
also given the opportunity to learn based on multiple
intelligences.
What are other GATE components?

Weekly Pull-out Program, grades 4-6
 GATE After School Program, grades 4-8
 Accelerated Curriculum, grades 7-12
Weekly Pull-Out Program
Grades 4-6

For 45 minutes each week
from mid-October until
May, Julie Roberts, the
district GATE instructor,
conducts enrichment
lessons. Mrs. Roberts is a
La Canada resident,
parent and experienced
teacher.
 The Pull-out Program is
scheduled during nonacademic times of the
school day.
What Makes These Classes Unique?
GATE students are given opportunities to
enlarge their intellectual and academic
horizons, stimulate curiosity, and build on
the fundamentals of citizenship and
community.
Examples?
Fourth graders have
sessions in mysteries,
archaeology, brainy biology and
more
 Fifth graders have
sessions in eggsperiments, optical
illusions, criminal justice and more
 Sixth graders have
sessions in investing, chemistry--and more!
 All students also examine
personal/social aspects of being

GATE After School Enrichment Programs
Who
May
Participate?
 All fourth grade GATE students
 All
fifth through eighth grade students who
apply either on-line or by the paper
application packet.
Elementary
GATE After School
Enrichment Program
Undoubtedly the most known LCUSD
program for GATE students
 Offered
from February to May
 Topics run from four to six weeks
Topics Offered 2010-2011,
Grades 4-6
(most through the generosity of our community)
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Wildlife Biology
Word Play
Practical Chinese
Kobe or LeBron?
Juggling
Magic
Printmaking Art
The “Pitch”
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Website Blast Off!
Creating Small Worlds
Crime Scene Investigation
Mad Scientist
Human Figure Drawing
Banking on Your Future
The Actors’ Workout
Hospital Happenings
7/8 GATE
After School Enrichment Program
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Offered in October
and November
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Topics run four to
six weeks
Junior Culinary Arts
 Real World War II
 The Actors’ Workout
 Neuroscience Applications
 Dabble in French
 Exploring the 3rd Dimension
 Navigating Your Passion through
Photography
 Practical Chinese
 Introduction to Interior Design
 Conception to Completion
 Weapons of the Civil War
 Art for Your Frame
Advantages of GASEP?

Students learn about
interesting, real world topics
that are beyond the general
curriculum.
 Students recognize and
appreciate the creative
professionals who share their
expertise.
 Students often produce
products they get to keep.
7/8 Developmental Stages
(Pre-teens and new teens
march to a different drummer)
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Social relationships paramount
“Fitting in” is a priority
Prefer to “hang-out” rather than attend planned
activities
Academic pursuits and/or achievement may be
less valued
Extra-curricular activities increase
You too can volunteer!
Calling all moms, dads, friends, colleagues,
neighbors and grandparents!
Share your knowledge and expertise
with our brightest students!
Contact: Lindi Dreibelbis Arthur
LCUSD Director of GATE
ldarthur@lcusd.net
818 952-8391
Accelerated Curriculum 7/8
Accelerated Curriculum
for Qualifying Students
Algebra I, Geometry and Beyond
Modern Languages
What Happens in
9th – 12th grades?
In 9-12 grades, in addition to
differentiation, counselors guide students
to take the most rigorous classes. Honors
and Advanced Placement classes are
offered in English, math, science, social
science, computer science and
instrumental music.
What Propels Our GATE Program?
As a strong proponent of differentiation
instruction, LCUSD strives to infuse enrichment,
extension of experience, rigor, higher-order thinking
skills, excitement and opportunity for acceleration
into the intricate fabric of the entire educational
experience for gifted students.
No Two Ways about It – Our
GATE Is GREAT!
www.lcusd.net/GATE
School Site GATE Coordinators
La Cañada Elementary
Nancy DeBoer
ndeboer@lcusd.net
818 952-8356
LCHS, Grade 7
Shannon Brascia
sbrascia@lcusd.net
818 952-4222
Palm Crest Elementary
Rachel Zooi
rzooi@lcusd.net
818 952-8366
LCHS, Grade 8
Allison Dalbeck
adalbeck@lcusd.net
818 952-4267
Paradise Canyon
Elementary
Susan Kanner
skanner@lcusd.net
818 952-8345
LCHS, Grades 9-12
Aaron Dover
adover@lcusd.net
818 952-4266