Page 6-Friday, May 16, 1980--The Michigan Daily A2 SCHOOL BOARD GIVES ENDORSEMENT Gifted program to begin in fall By BdNNIE JURAN In discussions preceding the Board's vote on the the standardized tests. Trustee Patti Cerny argued The Ann Arbor School Board unanimously endorsed proposal, Trustee John Heald argued that it was not that more importance be given to the opinions of the a pilot program for gifted children Wednesday night feasible to implement the program with a 10 to 1 parents of the gifted children. which will begin in the 1980-81 school year and extend pupil-teacher ratio. The trustee argued if the Board One of the main topics of discussion was the method over a three-year period. expected to expand the program in the future to in- by which the program will be evaluated. As presen- The program will involved 40 students in grades clude a larger number of studens, it would not be able ted to the Board, the proposal for the pilot project did four through six who have been previously to do so on this basis. not include a means of evaluation, although commit- designated as "gifted" on the basis of teacher Heald suggested the program should have a tee members noted that an evaluation design was recommendation, parent information, and standar- student-teacher ratio of 20'or 25 to 1. being developed. dized tests. The student-teacher ratio for the DR. LEE HANSEN, who spoke for the committee Hansen said a control group could be built into the program will be 10 to1. which formulated the program, said he thought 20 or program but he warned of the "potential problem of THE PILOT PROJECT, which will have an initial 25 children would be too many. He added, however, public relationswith the parents of childrenchosen cost of $30,000, will only be offered to children who are the pupil-student ratio might be raised to 15 to 1 for the control group." intellectually and academically gifted. The commit- during the second year of the program and possibly According to Hansen, the five principals who serve tee which formulated the program was forced to ex- as high as 19 to 1 after that. as "cluster leaders" for the Ann Arbor schools will lude children gifted in mechanical or physical In discussions concerning the criteria for iden- recommend to the Board the three schools which they abilities or the arts because of the small size of the tifying gifted children, Trustee Lana Pollack said she feel are best suited to house the- gifted children program, according to the committee's report. thought less weight should be given to the results of program. ON SUNDAY MAY 18,12-6 PM ONLY PRETENDERSFAT FF-AL RS CHWSADWOFIREFALL Live tDouglasConvenUNDERTOW /5 apSoongHEADE FLO ® KAm~nbdxtLOE TH00 000 0WA0 SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE $4,49 (7.98 list) $5*39(8.98 list HU1ME PIE GENESIS "On To Victory" "DUKE" HFOOL FOR PRYFACE BEHIND THE NES INFATUATION TURN IT ON AGAIN 107.0FF EVERYTHING *Prices shown are Sunday Storewide Sole Prices- HOURS: MON - SAT 10 - 6 SUN 12-8 -Tape Store will not be open. No tapes on sale. -No rainchecks -Because of small store & A N N A R R 0 R large crowds, no returns will be accepted during sale day E MOWv® I I E I I I I I I 4