BISD's gifted education program is a four-pronged program focusing on creative, intellectual, academic and leadership skills and serves students who are performing, or have the potential to perform, at very high levels relative to their peers. Students are provided the opportunity to work independently, in homogeneous groups and heterogeneous groups. BISD expenditures for the gifted and talented program are described in Exhibit 2-68 . Total funding for gifted and talented programs increased by 83 percent and per student funding increased by three percent since 1995-96. The number of students in the program increased 77 percent over the same period.
All elementary schools follow a common curriculum skill sequence.
The curriculum includes content specific instruction, which incorporates creative, intellectual and leadership skills. Leadership and creativity are also major components of this program. I is offered to eighth grade students. Pre AP courses will also be available at the middle school next school year. High school students may choose from an array of Pre-AP and AP classes in the four core areas and in art and foreign language.