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Click links for specific information on Summer 2007 or for admissions and registration procedures
Hunter College Gifted Education Program
On February 28, 2006, the New York State Education Department approved our 12-credit program for the Gifted Certificate Extension.
Program Coordinator:Dr. Dona Matthews
Associate Professor, Special Education
Director, Center for Gifted Studies and Education
phone: 212.772.4703
fax: 212 772 4229
dmatt@hunter.cuny.edu
The New York State Education Department now requires teachers to pass the Gifted Content Specialty Test and to successfully complete 12 credits of graduate courses in gifted education in order to qualify for the Gifted Certificate Extension. Teachers will need to have this Extension in order to teach in designated-gifted classes starting September, 2006.
The graduate program in Gifted Education at Hunter College is designed to provide educators with a solid background of expertise in gifted education, enabling them to work effectively with a diverse population of exceptionally capable learners, and to take leadership roles in the field. In addition to satisfying New York State requirements for coursework and field hours for the gifted certificate extension, successful completion of this program will result in a Hunter College advanced certificate in gifted education.
The Program: History and Description
On local, state, and national levels, communities concerned with education have a heightened awareness of the fact that human resources are our most precious assets. It is becoming increasingly clear that additional pedagogical knowledge, skills, and experiences are required for teaching those with exceptionally advanced learning needs. The recent establishment by New York State (NYS) of a gifted extension to its teacher certifications reflects these emerging understandings.
Hunter College has long been associated with excellence in gifted education. The Hunter Model School was established in 1870 as a laboratory school for teacher education and, for the past 75 years, the Hunter Campus Schools have focused explicitly on children of high intellectual ability. Hunter built a strong national and international reputation in gifted education with the gifted teacher preparation graduate program and research agenda directed by Dr. Rena Subotnik from 1986 to 1998. In 2003 Hunter College established a Center for Gifted Studies and Education, with the mission of building a vibrant, internationally recognized center of excellence in urban gifted education.
The advanced certificate program now underway constitutes an important part of Hunter's commitment to re-establish a reputation for excellence in teacher development in gifted education. It focuses on the urban context, incorporating rich cultural, social, political, educational, and scientific resource possibilities, and developing expertise in educating students from a broad range of backgrounds who are gifted and talented in a variety of ways. Reflecting the conceptual framework of the Hunter College School of Education, the program is infused with a strong commitment to social justice and to understanding giftedness broadly and inclusively. Several models and perspectives on giftedness, identification, and programming will be discussed. Consistent with current empirical and theoretical work in the field, the focus is on an advanced domain-specific mastery perspective rather than solely on intellectual potential as assessed by intelligence tests. [MSOffice1]
Admissions Standards
• NYS teacher certification and at least 15 credits of graduate study in education, with at least one course in human development (including child or adolescent development)
• A GPA of at least 3.5 in graduate courses in a graduate degree program
• Onsite writing sample and interview
• Two letters of recommendation from appropriate professional or academic sources.
Exit Standards
• No course grade below B.
CURRICULUM
SPED 753 / CEDF 753
Understanding and Identifying Gifted Learners: Individual and Developmental Diversity.
3 credits; 10 field hours. Prerequisite: Permission of Gifted Program coordinator
An overview of major questions and issues in the field, including What is intelligence? What is creativity? What is giftedness? How do we measure these qualities? Focus on the urban context, incorporating rich cultural, social, political, educational, and scientific resource possibilities, and developing expertise in educating gifted and talented students
from a broad range of backgrounds.
SPED 754 / CEDC 754
Differentiating Curriculum for Gifted and Talented Learners.
3 credits; 10 field hours. Prerequisite: SPED 753
Consideration of a wide range of curriculum options appropriate for meeting diverse kinds of gifted learning needs from early childhood through Grade 12, as well as a variety of placement options, from the regular classroom to the fulltime gifted school.
SPED 755 / CEDC 755
Assessment and Instruction for Diversely Gifted Learners
3 credits; 20 field hours. Prerequisite: SPED 753
Supervised learning lab experience involving scaffolded assessment, diagnosis, and associated curriculum differentiation for diversely gifted learners, including those with learning and emotional problems, physical disabilities, and special abilities. Includes writing and implementing individual education plans.
SPED 756 / CEDF 756 / CEDC 756 / ADSUP 756
Professional Discourse and Leadership in Gifted Education
3 credits; 10 field hours.
Prerequisite or Corequisite: SPED 753
Collaborative models of professional development and program evaluation in gifted education. Major issues and leadership concerns in the field, e.g., including underrepresented populations and integrating gifted practices schoolwide and systemwide. Students investigate networking and dissemination.
Fall, 2006: September 7 - December 21, 2006
Dr. Matthews will be teaching two courses in Fall 2006:
SPED 753 and SPED 755.
Students can take either one or both classes.
Fieldwork opportunities will be considered on an individual basis.
SPED 753 (CODE: 4571)
Tuesdays, 4:30-7 p.m.
Understanding and Identifying Gifted Learners: Individual and Developmental Diversity
SPED 755 (CODE: 4573)
Thursdays, 4:30-7 p.m.
Assessment and Instruction for Diversely Gifted Learners
Fees: $270/credit
+ one-time Hunter College non-matric registration fee of $60
Contact Dr. Dona Matthews for details:
dmatt@hunter.cuny.edu; 212.772.4703
Information about Gifted Education Policies
in New York State
AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Pursuant to sections 207, 210, 305, 3001, 3004, 3006, 3009, and 3010 of the Education Law.
1. Subparagraph (v) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective August 11, 2005, as follows:
Programs leading to extensions for gifted education for classroom teaching certificates shall require:
(a) study that will permit the candidate to obtain the following knowledge, understanding and skills:
(1) knowledge of the characteristics of gifted students who learn at a pace and level that is significantly different from their classmates;
(2) knowledge of various tools and methods for identifying and assessing gifted students, and skill in using such tools and methods;
(3) knowledge and understanding of appropriate curriculum design for gifted students;
(4) knowledge and skills for planning, providing, coordinating, and evaluating differentiated teaching and learning environments to challenge and assist gifted students in learning to their highest levels of achievement; and
(5) skill in collaborating with other school staff, families and the community to provide appropriate individualized instruction for gifted students; and
(b) college-supervised field experiences of at least 50 clock hours teaching gifted students.
NOTE: If you are considering using one or more Hunter Gifted Education courses to supplement other courses you have taken in gifted education in order to get the 12 credits you need for a NYS Gifted Certificate Extension, compare the courses you have taken with this list of requirements, and see what you will need to cover in any further coursework.
A summary of changes to regulations and policies (August 11 2005): http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/gt/newgtregext.htm
Further details about this are available on the Q&A http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/gt/qareg.htm
For information on gifted education in New York State :
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/gt/funds.htm
Gifted education test objectives and a sample test for the New York State Gifted Content Specialty Test can be found at http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/
The New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: for registration information, test dates, preparation guides, test frameworks, sample test, etc. In each section, go to Field 64, Gifted Education
Questions and Answers about the NYS Gifted Education Extension to teacher certification
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/gt/qareg.htm
New York State Education Department
NYSED Part 80 Requirements for Teachers' Certificates and Teaching Practice
Section 80-4.3 (d) Requirements for the extension for gifted education
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/gt/certreg.htm
Gifted Education Extension New Certification Requirements
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/gt/gtext.htm
