Transylvania County Schools' AIG Program is supported by local and state funds. Each School's program is tailored to meet the needs of individual students. Students may be nominated by teachers, administrators, parents, or the students themselves for the program. For additional information, please contact your child's school.

Transylvania County Schools AIG Plan 2023-2024

NORTH CAROLINA ACADEMICALLY OR INTELLECTUALLY GIFTED PROGRAM

A. Article 9 (Special Education)

Amended to create Article 9B (Academically or Intellectually Gifted Students)

B. Definition
Academically or intellectually gifted students perform or show the potential to perform at substantially high levels of accomplishments when compared with others their age, experience or environment. Academically or intellectually gifted students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual areas, specific academic fields, or in both intellectual areas and specific academic fields. Academically or intellectually gifted students require differentiated education services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular educational program. Outstanding abilities are present in students from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human behavior.

C. Major Components of Article 9B

1. Directs State Board of Education to develop and disseminate guidelines to use in developing plans

2. Allows local systems greater control and flexibility for identification and services

3. Requires local boards of education to develop local gifted plans

a. Screening, identification and placement

b. Program description and services in a variety of settings to meet the diversity of identified students

c. Measurable objectives aligned with curricula and evaluation of improved student performances

d. Staff development

e. Program evaluation

f. Involvement of school, parents and community

g. Personnel to implement plan

h. Procedures to resolve disagreements

i. Increased funding from 3.9% to 4% of ADM

4. Requires local plans to be submitted to the State Board of Education for review and comments

5. Considers comments of State Board of Education

6. Remains in effect no longer than three years

7. Submits any amendments of plan during three-year period to State Board of Education for review and comments

Within the NC Dept of Public Instruction, the Division of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education (DALGE) supports the advanced learning needs of students by ensuring collaboration among a variety of programs, including: Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted; Advanced Placement; Credit by Demonstrated Mastery; Dual Enrollment, including College & Career Promise; the North Carolina Governor's School; and NC High School Diploma Endorsements.

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The Governor's School of North Carolina is a multi-week summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses on each of two campuses. The curriculum focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline, and it does not involve credit, tests, or grades.

Each public school unit or non-public school can nominate sophomores and juniors to the state level for a competitive selection process. In Transylvania County Schools, students do not need to have an AIG designation to apply. Transylvania County Schools' nomination process is outlined below.

Note: to be nominated by TCS, students must complete the local application process by the local application deadline.


1. TCS annually establishes its potential candidate pool

• Teachers, counselors, and/or departments suggest potential candidates

• The AIG coordinator screens the entire sophomore & junior class EOC, PreACT, and ACT scores for additional potential candidates

• All potential candidates must be in top 50% of their graduating class and have a 3.0 GPA or higher

2. Potential candidates and their parents/guardians are contacted about eligibility

• Potential candidates & parents/guardians should attend Governor's School evening meeting or webinar

• Potential candidates must attend local information meeting during I&E or Supervised Study to receive application and letter of recommendation links. 

• If you cannot attend, contact the AIG Coordinator to make other arrangements.

3. Students complete the official application & solicit 2 letters of recommendation

• Application includes 2 essays, a resume, and two mini-essays.

• Application must be completed electronically & submitted through Google Class.

• Letters of recommendation must be completed on the official Governor's School form & be submitted directly to the AIG Coordinator.

• The AIG Coordinator will host candidate support sessions during I&E or Supervised Study.

4. The local selection committee nominates up to 4 academic candidates, 1 world languages candidate, and up to 8 arts candidates to represent TCS in state-level considerations

• Nominees and non-selected students are informed of the local results on or before the state application deadline.

• Arts nominees will receive detailed instructions from the state level about portfolio or audition requirements.

5. The state-level committee invites its choice of selected nominees to attend Governor's School.