GATE Program

Students are enrolled in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program through passing the CogAT screener and assessment. The  30 minute GATE screener is given online to all 3^rd grade students in Burbank. Our 4^th or 5^thgrade students take the GATE screener if they are referred by their teachers or parents by filling out and returning a HOPE nomination form. Your child must receive a score of 80% or higher on the GATE screener to be eligible to take the full GATE Assessment.

 Teachers in Burbank have all been trained in differentiation, which is differentiating lessons for ability levels: i.e. for the same math lesson, some students may be getting a re-teach page dealing with computation, whereas GATE or high achieving students may receive work that is more challenging: story problems, math reasoning, or projects. Currently every student is receiving differentiated instruction at their level. GATE and high achieving non-GATE students may be working on the same assignments and/or projects. Differentiation is the key to teaching every child as an individual. Teachers do not give separate assignments specifically for GATE only. 

Please visit the BUSD GATE E-News Website here for more information about giftedness, parent meeting dates, past presentations and slide decks of resources to support your gifted child.

The district GATE coordinator is Terry Williamson who can be reached at terrywilliamson@burbankusd.org. The Disney GATE site coordinator is our curriculum specialist, Kelly McNutt. She can be reached at kellymcnutt@burbankusd.org or (818) 729-0100 ext. 10117