Specific Options for Gifted Education in BC

MACC programs

At the elementary level, some districts offer Multi Age Cluster Classes (MACC) for gifted students in public schools. In the Vancouver School Board (VSB), these classes are stated to provide academic challenge and social-emotional support for highly gifted grade 4-7 students through an intellectual peer group and conceptually advanced curriculum. In Vancouver, Grade 4-6 students will be considered for MACC based on academic achievement, skill development, cognitive abilities, intellectual interests, creativity, and emotional maturity. Minimum criteria typically include:

• meets criteria to receive a P (Gifted) designation in the VSB
• reading and mathematics skills two or more grades above grade level
• two plus standard deviations above the mean on the district-administered cognitive ability test
• demonstrated ability to focus on tasks, enjoyment of complexity and marked motivation to learn quickly and to learn advanced level material. Students can expect to work with intermediate level curriculum
• autonomous, self-motivated learners

Students requiring remedial resource support or with significant behaviour challenges are not considered appropriate for MACC programming in Vancouver.

The Coquitlam school district offers a three-year Middle School program where identified gifted students in Grade 6, 7 and 8 are clustered together for the four core subjects – Language Arts, Science, Math and Social Studies. Applications are distributed in the Fall to district schools. Parents are responsible for transportation to and from MACC schools.

Please note that selection into MACC programs and the programs themselves differ between school districts.

Acceleration at the elementary level may involve working individually at a higher level, joining a higher class for part of the day, or grade skipping.

Gifted Outreach Programs

Some districts also offer so-called “pull-out” programs for gifted or highly able students in the public system at the elementary level. These vary from a couple of days a year to a few hours a week of gifted programming. Transportation to these programs may be the responsibility of the parents. Outreach programs include Challenge Centre programs and Seminar programs.

Challenge Centre

Challenge Centre candidates demonstrate a need for further enrichment beyond the enriched and/or differentiated classroom. These programs allow students to work in a fast-paced environment on a topic or area of curricular interest with other like-minded students. Topics could include art, math, physics and literature to name a few. Students are referred to Challenge Centres by their school-based team.

Seminar Program

Seminar programs are available for students in Grades 4-7. Programs range from 6-10 days. A seminar candidate will have a gifted designation and/or demonstrates a need for significant enrichment and rigour. These programs offer an opportunity for extremely able and passionate students to:

• Work with their intellectual peers on an on-going basis
• Use higher-level thinking and in-depth analysis skills
• Explore topics of interest with activities and projects
• Participate in Project and Problem-Based Learning

Examples of Seminars include Engineering; Exploravision; STEAM-Makerspace; Playwriting and Acting; Math Explorations; Model U.N. and Young Writers Students in the Seminar program must be able to manage time effectively and keep up with regular schoolwork. Students are referred to Seminar programs by their school-based team.

GOLD Program

At the secondary level, two public high schools in the B.C., located in Vancouver, offer unique instruction to provide support to students who have been assessed as being both intellectually gifted and learning disabled (twice-exceptional). Students may also have been diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (High Functioning) and/or health issues which impede academic success. The program also serves students who are intellectually gifted yet underachieving.

Criteria for selection to these so-called GOLD (Gifted/Learning Disabled) programs includes:

• meets the criteria for the appropriate Ministry of Education special needs designation Gifted (P); and

• meet the criteria for Learning Disabilities (Q); and/or

• Anxiety Disorder (R/H) and/or High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (G) and/or health issues (D) which impede academic success.

• School Based Team recommendation

Mini Schools

Mini school programs, available in several public school districts predominantly clustered in the Lower Mainland, provide opportunities for highly motivated students who are district residents and consistently work at an above average or applying level and have excellent work habits (generally achieve B averages or higher). Entry into these programs, which include enrichment and in some cases acceleration in subjects ranging from science and math to fine arts and leadership, is competitive. In Vancouver, for example, each year over 1,400 students apply for approximately 600 Grade 8 spaces. Acceptance is based on test marks, Grade 6 and Grade 7 report cards, applications and interviews. Mini schools may not be a good fit for all gifted students, some of whom do not achieve academically. For others, such as those gifted in fine arts and acting, these programs may be a good education solution.

Secondary Challenge programs

These programs provide an opportunity for highly able and gifted students to engage with small groups of similarly able students in intense academic, intellectual and creative challenges. As an example, Mount Douglas Secondary School in the Greater Victoria School District runs a Challenge Program. Students need to be selected by a school teacher or principal to apply for this program and then write a test. Parents may also refer their children for consideration.

Within the program at Mount Douglas, Grade 9 and 10 Challenge students stay together for the core subjects of Social Studies, English, Science and Mathematics. In Grade 11 and 12, Challenge students maintain the grouping in Social Studies, English and Mathematics and choose the appropriate Science courses. An Interdisciplinary Studies course is typically taken in Grade 11 or 12 as well. The core subject grouping offers an environment and a peer group where interest in learning and facing intellectual challenges is seen as the norm and not as something unusual or undesirable. This constructive peer atmosphere is a tremendous advantage to the academically gifted student. On the other hand, the elective program provides the advantages of mixing Challenge students with the rest of the student body and ensuring that they are well integrated into the school’s broader culture.

Concurrent Studies

Students can take courses at a school level above the current one. For example, while enrolled in high school, students also attend class(es) at a university. Concurrent studies programs can be found at a number of universities including Simon Fraser University, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and UBC.

Criteria for selection for concurrent studies include enrollment in a B.C. secondary school, a superior academic record (Simon Fraser University requires a 90% average or higher) and the support of the student’s school principal and parent/guardian.

Students in this category may, for example at UBC, take up to 6 credits per academic term, up to a maximum of 12 credits.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses

The Advanced Placement (AP) program makes college and university courses available for students to take while they’re still in secondary school. Courses offered in this program are administered by the College Board, which is recognized for advanced credit or placement in many Canadian and American universities and colleges. AP courses are granted credit through the External Credential program and may be used towards district and provincial scholarships. Students should check with their school counsellor to learn if AP courses are offered in their school district. Read more here.

International Baccalaureate (IB) programs The IB program academically challenges students with the objective of preparing them for success at university. The most common program in the public school system is the IB Diploma Program for students in Grades 11 and 12. Students should check with their school counsellor whether this program is offered in their school district. More likely to be programming in independent schools in BC are the K – 5 (Primary Years Program; PYP) and Grade 6-10 (Middle Years Program; MYP) levels. Courses within the program are divided into six main categories: languages, social studies, experimental sciences, mathematics and visual or performing arts. In Canada, some courses are recognized as equivalent to university courses and students may receive first year credit for courses in the program.

Students in the IB Diploma Program can either work towards an IB certificate or diploma. To get a certificate, only one IB course and externally-assessed exam is required. Obtaining a diploma in the program consists of several requirements – students are required to:

• Take each one of the six prescribed courses

• Write an essay of up to 4,000 words

• Complete at least 50 hours in creative, action and service requirements

• Complete the “Theory of Knowledge” philosophy requirement

Courses may be taken at Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). IB courses are granted credit through the Ministry External Credential program and may be used towards district and provincial scholarships. More information about the IB program and World Colleges to attend post-graduation can be found here.

Accelerated Learning Courses or Programs

These involve grade or course acceleration. An example is the University Transition Program, a partnership between the Vancouver School Board, B.C. Ministry of Education and University of British Columbia (UBC), where the 5 years of high school are condensed into 2.

This conceptually-advanced liberal arts curriculum and cohort culture attract inquiries from all over the world. Annual applications from students typically aged 13 involve comprehensive reviews of 250+ learner profiles with invitations to approximately twenty students each year to join the gender-balanced cohort of young scholars. Diverse advanced learning experiences from orientation through to graduation support social-emotional awareness and wellness while engaging students in a strong work ethic and high standards of scholarship and research within a close-knit community of students, parents, teachers, and alumni.

Over the course of two years, Transition students meet requirements for the BC Dogwood certificate and explore UBC Faculties through a variety of senior secondary and university level coursework, competitions, field trips, camps and International Global Citizenship Tours. Students typically achieve early university entrance and commence full-time studies at UBC at age 14 or 15.

Concurrent Studies

Students can take courses at a school level above the current one. For example, while enrolled in high school, students also attend class(es) at a university. Concurrent studies programs can be found at a number of universities including Simon Fraser University, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and UBC.

Criteria for selection for concurrent studies include enrollment in a B.C. secondary school, a superior academic record (Simon Fraser University requires a 90% average or higher) and the support of the student’s school principal and parent/guardian.

Students in this category may, for example at UBC, take up to 6 credits per academic term, up to a maximum of 12 credits.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses

The Advanced Placement (AP) program makes college and university courses available for students to take while they’re still in secondary school. Courses offered in this program are administered by the College Board, which is recognized for advanced credit or placement in many Canadian and American universities and colleges. AP courses are granted credit through the External Credential program and may be used towards district and provincial scholarships. Students should check with their school counsellor to learn if AP courses are offered in their school district. Read more here.

Secondary Challenge programs

These programs provide an opportunity for highly able and gifted students to engage with small groups of similarly able students in intense academic, intellectual and creative challenges. As an example, Mount Douglas Secondary School in the Greater Victoria School District runs a Challenge Program. Students need to be selected by a school teacher or principal to apply for this program and then write a test. Parents may also refer their children for consideration.

Within the program at Mount Douglas, Grade 9 and 10 Challenge students stay together for the core subjects of Social Studies, English, Science and Mathematics. In Grade 11 and 12, Challenge students maintain the grouping in Social Studies, English and Mathematics and choose the appropriate Science courses. An Interdisciplinary Studies course is typically taken in Grade 11 or 12 as well. The core subject grouping offers an environment and a peer group where interest in learning and facing intellectual challenges is seen as the norm and not as something unusual or undesirable. This constructive peer atmosphere is a tremendous advantage to the academically gifted student. On the other hand, the elective program provides the advantages of mixing Challenge students with the rest of the student body and ensuring that they are well integrated into the school’s broader culture.

International Baccalaureate (IB) programs

The IB program academically challenges students with the objective of preparing them for success at university. The most common program in the public school system is the IB Diploma Program for students in Grades 11 and 12. Students should check with their school counsellor whether this program is offered in their school district. More likely to be programming in independent schools in BC are the K – 5 (Primary Years Program; PYP) and Grade 6-10 (Middle Years Program; MYP) levels. Courses within the program are divided into six main categories: languages, social studies, experimental sciences, mathematics and visual or performing arts. In Canada, some courses are recognized as equivalent to university courses and students may receive first year credit for courses in the program.

Students in the IB Diploma Program can either work towards an IB certificate or diploma. To get a certificate, only one IB course and externally-assessed exam is required. Obtaining a diploma in the program consists of several requirements – students are required to:

• Take each one of the six prescribed courses
• Write an essay of up to 4,000 words
• Complete at least 50 hours in creative, action and service requirements
• Complete the “Theory of Knowledge” philosophy requirement

Courses may be taken at Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). IB courses are granted credit through the Ministry External Credential program and may be used towards district and provincial scholarships. More information about the IB program and World Colleges to attend post-graduation can be found here.