Grant is part of a collaboration with UCF
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A rare, multi-million dollar grant will help the Osceola School District work closer with under-represented gifted students.
The Osceola School District, in conjunction with the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Community Innovation and Education, announced Thursday morning that it has earned a federal Javits grant from the US Department of Education for $2.6 million over five years to fund Project GLIMPSE (Gifted Learning Infusing Marginalized Perspectives via Strengths Education).
The Osceola District received one of just 13 new grants funded this year by the U.S. Department of Education, and Osceola becomes only the third school district in Florida to ever receive the highly-competitive grant, the School District said.
“Project GLIMPSE will enhance our schools’ abilities to identify giftedness in traditionally underrepresented student populations throughout the Osceola School District, and to better equip our schools for working with gifted students through a variety of means,” said Osceola School District Superintendent Dr. Debra Pace. “It will also allow us to provide training at 14 school sites and funding for 12 employees to get further education at UCF in gifted studies to best support our students.”
David Maddock, an Osceola District Research and Evaluation Specialist, said the Javits grant is largest one offered for gifted education, and that the adding funding will make it possible for more staff and educators (at least 10) to receive training and certification in gifted studies.
"They would be in minority-heavy schools, and would look like those students," Maddock said. "Teachers often identify it in those who look like them — male teachers will identify male students, and so on. Other disabilities can also hide giftedness; a student can have dylexia, for example, that can mask it.
"With having more staff trained, we'll be able to look at and identify more than test scores, and in turn better serve underserved populations."
Through GLIMPSE, the District will be able to carry out more evidence-based research, projects, strategies and other activities designed to build and enhance the ability of elementary schools and secondary schools to identify gifted, and talented students and meet their special educational needs.
“UCF will implement Project GLIMPSE through graduate-level training in Gifted Education, through professional development, consultations and team collaboration with Osceola School District principals, specialists, and teachers with expertise from faculty in Gifted Education, Exceptional Education, Educational Leadership, Counseling and School Psychology and Educational Technology,” said Dr. Gillian Eriksson, UCF Gifted Education Program Coordinator, Learning Sciences and Educational Research.
Maddock said the program will be the first of its kind in Central Florida.
"We hope to develop a model program to share with our neighboring districts," he said.
