The Open Gate Program

Purpose

To provide educational opportunities for children with extremely high potential and very limited economic means through the San Diego City Schools, Gifted and Talented Education, (GATE), Seminar Program for Highly Gifted Children.
OPEN GATE Program A Partnership Between:

  • San Diego City Schools, Gifted and Talented Education Program, (GATE)
  • Human Development Foundation
  • Established in the spring of 1998
  • Formal partnership recognition by the San Diego City Schools, Board of Education

    The Intention

    The intention of OPEN GATE is to align the participating students with the resources necessary to nurture their gifts; support their education; and promote leadership potential through the GATE Seminar program.

    The GATE Seminar Program is well designed to serve the needs of highly gifted children. However, many low-income students are never enrolled.

    WHY OPEN GATE?

    Studies indicate that gifted children from lower economic backgrounds frequently lack the verbal skills necessary to succeed in accelerated educational programs. Individual attention is required to raise verbal skills quickly. If basic reading and math skills are not acquired by 4th or 5th grade students are not likely to succeed academically.

    Identification of Highly Gifted Children

    A minimum score on the RAVEN Progressive Matrix test identifies second grade students who qualify for the GATE Seminar program. The test is comprised of patterns and puzzles and designed to determine a high level of native intelligence regardless of cultural background and the level of verbal skills. Identification of Highly Gifted Children (contd.) Until the fall of 1998 the RAVEN test was only administered upon request. This year, for the first time, all 2nd grade students in the San Diego City Schools system were tested. 37 children have been identified who live south of highway 8 and qualify for OPEN GATE Program in the fall 1999.

    OPEN GATE Student Profile

  • Students meet the following requirements:
  • Qualified for GATE, Seminar program.
  • Recommended by a teacher, counselor or principal.
  • Entering 3rd grade with good attendance record.
  • No GATE Seminar program at their neighborhood school.
  • Parents are willing to attend parent meetings and participate at school.
  • From low-income families that qualify for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program.
  • There are no ethnic requirements. Students are from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

    Resources Provided
  • Tutoring to develop verbal and math skills and study habits.
  • The cost of school supplies, books and field trips.
  • Assistance with the cost of transportation for students to attend the nearest GATE Seminar classroom.
  • The cost of transportation for family members to participate at school.

    The OPEN GATE Program Development
    Developed through the collaborative efforts of HDF, GATE staff, teachers, school administrators & community organizations.
    The program is managed under the co-direction of :
  • Dr. Barbara Schuch, San Diego City Schools, GATE Program Manager.
  • Marjorie Fox, President/Executive Director, Human Development Foundation.

    Dr. Schuch's background in education spans four decades as classroom teacher, curriculum resource teacher, site administrator and central office program administrator.

    Ms. Fox has more than twenty years experience with non-profit organizational and program development, coalition building and media relations.

    Program Status

  • Twelve students.
  • Students are in 3rd and 4th grades.
  • Six San Diego City Schools.
  • All are in low-income neighborhoods, south of Highway 8.
  • Students enrolled would not have been attending this highly gifted program without the resources and advocacy provided through the OPEN GATE Program.

    Evaluation

    Student's progress is monitored throughout the school year by periodic testing, report cards, and parent, teacher and GATE staff conferences.SAT scores and teacher evaluations are available at the end of the school year. Independent student evaluations have been conducted through testing by the Sylvan Learning Center.

    Student accomplishments

    Tommy (4th grade) recently tested at 12th grade, 9th month level in math on a CAT.
    Martise (4th grade) was selected for a mentoring program with a SDSU, Professor of Marine Biology. Also, her poetry was published in the Tribune's publication, Border Voices.
    Lihn (3rd grade) won the local San Diego Public Library, essay contest. She had never been to a library before entering school this year.
    English is not spoken in these children's homes.

    Program challenges Br> -Communication Communication with families is key to the children?s success in school. The City Schools GATE Department provides translators when available. Arrangements for translators can take weeks. Language differences and lack of education make communication difficult between school and families. Mentoring One-to-One since 1987 Founded by Matilda Cuomo, former first lady of New York. Program of Walden Family Services, a state licensed agency. Sue Rye, Mentor Program Director Collaboration with AmeriCorps. California Mentor Initiative compliance. After-School On-Site Mentoring Mentor screening, background checks and fingerprinting Mentor/Mentee matching language, gender, region Mentor Training Site Coordinator supervision Group Activities sponsored by: San Diego Police Dept., Channel 10 Chargers and Flash Soccer Team Summer Program Intense concentration on verbal skills. For new and returning OPEN GATE students. Taught by GATE Seminar Teachers. Focused on each student?s Sylvan evaluation. 4 weeks throughout the summer. 2 locations, year-round and traditional school year. Conclusion: To provide the same opportunities to the new class of 12 third graders in September 1999, OPEN GATE needs $36,000. For each child in the program, annual resources cost an average of $3,000. Mentoring One-to-One administration costs $250 per child totaling $5,000. Summer Program, verbal skills intensive, will cost $10,000. A New Approach: Research indicates that most financial assistance is available for college and to a lesser extent high school There is too much scholarship money chasing too few qualified and economically disadvantaged candidates at high school and college level A New Approach (contd.) OPEN GATE focuses on highly gifted, 2nd graders from families with very low-income and provides them with the resources necessary to succeed within the public school system. OPEN GATE Schools Dewey Ralph McKay Encanto Doris Alexandros Molly Karlsgodt Franklin Sarah Ellis The OPEN GATE Program includes Enrollment in a Seminar class for fall of 1999 Enrollment in OPEN GATE 4 week summer program Each child will be assigned a mentor