SUPPORT FOR ADMINISTRATORS

Following are a few frequently asked questions you may encounter from your parents and/or faculty regarding PROJECT2EXCEL and twice-exceptional issues.

Q:  What does it mean to be "twice-exceptional?"
A:  The current definition is that a child has been identified as gifted by whatever criterion is used by the district in which (s)he attends school and also has been diagnosed with a disability or disorder of some sort (ADD/ADHD, ASD, EBD, LD, OHD, etc.)

Q:  I have heard of PROJECT2EXCEL in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.  What is it?
A. PROJECT2EXCEL is a five-year project designed to change the way we look for, serve, and support learners who are gifted and who also have various additional exceptionalities, including attention deficit disorders, autism spectrum disorders, behavioral and emotional disorders, and learning disabilities. These children are frequently overlooked for gifted services.Results of the 5-year project will include:

• A comprehensive identification protocol for grades K-8
• Modified gifted curriculum for grades 3-8
• A graduate twice-exceptional certification program for teachers
• A parent education and support model for parents of twice-exceptional children

The intended outcome of this project is an improved system for supporting and educating twice-exceptional kids so that their academic giftedness can be developed while their learning deficits are addressed through the use of appropriate educational interventions.

Q:  What is the difference between the "control" and "treatment" groups in the PROJECT2EXCEL study?
A:  The only real difference is that the "treatment" group will receive the curricular modifications designed by the research team. 

• The "control" group will continue to receive the high quality education they have been receiving. 
• In the future, all students will benefit from the modifications created by the research.  
• Participating teachers will be trained to recognize twice-exceptional students and to understand their special needs. 
  
• Parents of both "control" and "treatment" groups will take part in parent training sessions.
• The "control" and "treatment" groups will both benefit from the knowledge gained regarding challenges faced by twice-exceptional children. 

Q:  How can I get my child into this study?     
A:  The study is already underway and students have been selected for participation in Fall, 2009.  Be assured, however, that your child will benefit from the heightened awareness on the part of teachers and administrators of issues faced by twice-exceptional children.  Although your child may not officially be a part of the study, you can access information, support, and resources through this website as well as by contacting your school's gifted and/or special education specialists.

Q:  If my child has a 504 plan in place, isn't she eligible for the study?
A:  The answer is "yes and no."  The "504" in "504 plan" refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which specifies that no one with a disability can be excluded from participating in federally funded programs or activities, including elementary, secondary or post-secondary schooling.  In this particular study, however, the answer is similar to that given above.  Students have already been selected for participation based upon a variety of factors.  Having a 504 plan in place was neither an advantage nor a disadvantage to being selected for participation.