Gifted & Talented Program
("QUEST" - Question, Understand, Explore, Think)

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public School District is committed to the identification of academically talented children within the district and the development of an instructional program designed to meet their needs.

Multiple criteria are used to identify students in grade four. These include a parent and teacher checklist, group ability test, a review of the NJ Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK) in third grade and three benchmark activities.

The Quest Program is a pull-out program for academically talented students in the district elementary schools. The goals directing the Quest Program include: to promote creative thinking skills, higher cognitive operations, problem solving skills and to increase knowledge, comprehension and application in content areas. There are four units offered each year to the Quest students. In order to meet the needs of other talented students who excel in written language and/or mathematics, enrichment units are also scheduled in each elementary school for students in grades three and four.

Throughout the school year, students are involved in special activities which enable them to interact with other identified students in our district and in neighboring districts.

The Quest staff is also available to meet with the teachers of academically talented children in grades K-3 to share classroom strategies and effective teaching techniques for the exceptional student. All K-3 teachers have access to instructional ideas to be used within the classroom for enrichment.