WELCOME! ...to the Chico Unified School District Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) website.  Check here for information concerning the district’s GATE programs, parent committee meetings, newsletter information, upcoming events, and links to related sites that may be of interest.   CONTENTS This site includes: A NEWS page for items of interest about the program locally and regionally. A CALENDAR page for upcoming events. A NEWSLETTER page where the parent newsletter will be posted. A LINKS page with connections to other sites, including CUSD GATE classes as available. WHAT IS GATE? Chico Unified School District supports three self-contained classes, one each for grades 4, 5 and 6,  located at Marigold Elementary, and a half-day per week "pullout" program for grades 2 - 6, housed at Jay Partridge Elementary.  Grades 7 through 12 include various GATE/ Honors/Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate classes on the different secondary school campuses. GATE classes seek to enrich and extend the education of students identified as "gifted" in a variety of ways, including adjusting the pace and depth of instruction, additional thematic investigations, and courses in areas of particular interest (at the high school level). WHO ARE THE GIFTED? Statistically speaking, "gifted" students are those who score in the top 2% on tests of intelligence.  In California, school districts determine their own eligibility standards for GATE programs (so "giftedness" is sometimes a matter of geography!).  CUSD uses a matrix of information including ability/intelligence test scores, achievement test scores (SAT-9), and a rating scale and other information from parents and teachers. ABOUT THIS SITE Pamela Beeman is in charge of this site, and suggestions and comments can be sent to her at pbeeman@cusd.chico.k12.ca.us. Brenton Strine is the designer and webmaster. Techical comments, error reports, and other comments can be sent to him at webmaster@styleable.com This is version 2.01.03 of this site, last updated March 27 2001.