According to the SFUSD, the mission of Gifted and Talented Education Programs is to provide challenging and engaging learning experiences and opportunities for growth that enable children with high potential, talent, and exceptional capacity to develop to their potential.

How and when are GATE children identified?
GATE kids can be identified as early as 3rd grade, based on the following criteria:
- Teacher and parent recommendations
- Student report cards
- Achievement test performance
- Special circumstances
- Visual and performing arts

Students continue to be identified for GATE throughout elementary school, and on through middle school and high school as well. Our teachers monitors all students throughout their years at Sloat to make sure they gain the necessary skills and stamina to meet their potential.

There is no longer any correlation between GATE identification and qualifying for honors classes in middle school and high school; that is based on test scores and placement tests.

What is Sloat's GATE curriculum?
GATE-identified students receive differentiated curriculum in the 4th and 5th grades. There is no separate curriculum, but the teachers use strategies to provide the students additional challenges.

Sloat GATE parent liaisons: Becky DesRoches and OPEN
Sloat GATE teacher liaison: Libbie Schock
SFUSD web page about GATE
California State Department of Education site about GATE