The Delavan-Darien School District strives to offer experiences appropriate to each student's individual needs, interests and capabilities. The Creating Opportunities for Abilities and Special Talents (C.O.A.S.T.)  gifted and talented programming options offered by our district include enrichment and acceleration. The classroom teachers are primarily responsible for implementing these modifications with support from resource teachers, building gifted and talented coordinators, administration and parents.

Program Goals
C.O.A.S.T. Gifted and Talented programming strives to provide students with opportunity to:

• participate in learning that is a horizontal expansion of the grade level curriculum
• participate in learning that is a vertical expansion of the grade level curriculum
• pursue individual interests
• become a self-directed learner
• explore abstract ideas that require application of critical, logical, and creative thinking skills
• develop decision-making skills
• become an effective communicator by expressing ideas in a variety of forms
• develop a positive self-concept
• appreciate culture and beauty
• develop social responsibility both as leaders and as contributors
  

Identification
Most often, the first formal indicator of "giftedness" is from standardized test results (WKCE).  "Gifted" students generally score in the top 1-2 percent of their class.  A qualifying score on a standardized test will trigger the need for a comprehensive Gifted and Talented assessment. 

• Delavan-Darien follows the identification guidelines developed by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI);
• Qualifying scores on at least two objective assessments (standardized tests) and a subjective indicator (usually a teacher recommendation) are required to make a formal identification;
• Delavan-Darien predominantly identifies students in the following areas of giftedness:
  • Reading and Language Arts
  • Math
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Visual Arts
  • Performing Arts
  • Leadership
• After your child is assessed, the Gifted and Talented Coordinator at your school will send written confirmation of whether or not your child has been formally identified for gifted programming;
• In partnership with school staff, parents may nominate a child for the Gifted and Talented assessment beginning as early as kindergarten.  A review of records will be completed to determine next steps.

Offerings
The Delavan-Darien District offers numerous Gifted and Talented Opportunities through the C.O.A.S.T. program, including but not limited to:

• Partnership with the Whitewater TAG Network, which has numerous opportunities including leadership conferences;
  
• High School Advanced Placement (AP) Courses;
• Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Curriculum at both Phoenix Middle School and Delavan-Darien High School;
• In-district workshops lead by teachers, parents and community experts;
• Differentiated curriculum by all K-12 teachers to meet individual student needs;
• Various writing/art contests that students are invited to participate in throughout the year, including regional math competitions, art competitions (National Junior Duck Stamp contest and the Wisconsin Duck Stamp Calendar contest) and writing competitions, including the Southern Lakes Anthology contest.