High Ability Learning
HAL at GCS

What Does the High Ability Funding in 
Our District Do for My Child?

As high ability coordinator in our district, I have been asked this question by parents of students identified as high ability. Funding for our high ability program is provided by a matching grant through the State of Nebraska and Garden County Schools. Although the amount of the grant varies from year to year, it is usually under $3,000.

So what happens to this money every year and how does it help my child? Let me state some of the ways the money is spent in our district:

• Teacher in-service and trainings (attending the annual conference in Kearney/Omaha)
• Harms Center in Scottsbluff (high school)
• Quiz bowls (junior high)
• Summer Camps (K-12)
• PhotoShop software (high school)
• Bullying/school discipline curriculum
• Transportation fees for high school science trips to Lincoln
• Field trips school wide
• Funding for AP classes
• Entry and transportation costs for trainings
• TV/D.V.D.’s
• SmartBoards

As you can see, many times when money is spent through our grant, it is for enrichment purposes and helps all students--not just our gifted population. You could say that high ability funding works “behind the scenes” in conjunction with other funds and grants in our system. The money is allocated through a team of teachers from each building. This is just a partial list of the services provided. However, it is important to realize that the small amount we receive is spent with children and their education in mind, and every effort is taken to spend it to help them to flourish educationally.

We will be setting up a link on the district web site this fall: www.gardencountyschools.org.

For further information concerning high ability students, please see our district web site or contact your school administrator or coordinator. Thank you.

Valerie Vincent
HAL Coordinator