STEP Policies, Procedures and Continuum of Services

Little Egg Harbor’s Gifted and Talented Program is referred to as STEP.  STEP stands for the STudent Enrichment Program.  The policies, procedures, and continuum of services for our K-6 gifted and talented program are outlined below.

Policies and Procedures: Kindergarten- 2nd Grade STEP

• At the George J. Mitchell School, STudent Enrichment Program (STEP) in Grades K-2 enhances and extends specific content areas at each grade level.  Enrichment instruction will focus on project-based learning.
• The criteria used to determine if a student is eligible for Grades K-2 STEP is as follows:
  • Dibels mClass
  • iReady ELA Diagnostic
  • iReady Math Diagnostic
  • Naglieri General Ability Assessments
  • Habits of Success Scale
  • KBIT II
  • Raven’s Non-Verbal Ability Screener
  • Teacher Recommendations 
• Parents of students invited to participate in STEP in Grades 1-2  who meet the criteria will be notified with a letter by the middle of September. 
• Parents of students invited to participate in STEP in Kindergarten who meet the criteria will be notified with a letter by late February. 
• Students are evaluated each year. 

Continuum of Services

Kindergarten STEP

• Rubber Band Cars
• Coding Projects
• Gardening Activities
• Arbor Day Presentation
• Project Based Learning

1st Grade STEP

• Create, write, and illustrate a nonfiction book
• Rubber Band Cars
• Coding Projects
• Gardening Activities
• Arbor Day Presentation
• Project Based Learning

2nd Grade STEP

• Create, write, and illustrate a nonfiction book
• Rubber Band Cars
• Coding Projects
• Gardening Activities
• Arbor Day Presentation
• Project Based Learning

3rd-6th Grade STEP

• At the Frog Pond Elementary School, STudent Enrichment Program (STEP) in Grades 3-6 enhances and extends specific content areas at each grade level.  Enrichment instruction will be focused on project-based learning.
• The criteria used to determine if a student is eligible for Grades 3-6 STEP is as follows:
  • Report Card Grades 
  • Dibels mClass
  • iReady Math Diagnostic
  • iReady ELA Math Diagnostic
  • NJ State ELA and Math Assessment (NJSLA) Scores (Grades 4-6)
  • Habits of Success Scale
  • Naglieri General Ability Assessments
  • KBIT II
  • Raven’s Non-Verbal Ability Screener
  • Teacher Recommendations 
• Parents of students admitted to STEP who meet the criteria will be notified with a letter by the middle of September. 
• Students are evaluated each year.

Continuum of Services

3rd Grade STEP

• Project Based Learning
• Novel Studies
• Math Competition
• Logic and Problem Puzzles
• Poetry
• Strategy and Math Games

4th Grade STEP

• Project Based Learning
• Novel Studies
• Math Competition
• Logic and Problem Puzzles
• Poetry
• Strategy and Math Games

5th Grade STEP

• The Peer Buddies
• Project Based Learning
• Novel Studies
• Math Competition
• Logic and Problem Puzzles
• Poetry
• Strategy and Math Games

6th Grade STEP

• The Frog Pond Press
• Project Based Learning
• Novel Studies
• Math Competition
• Logic and Problem Puzzles
• Poetry
• Strategy and Math Games
• Portfolio Creation to Prepare for G.A.T.E. (Gifted and Talented Education) Applications