Press Release: Maryland Honors Nine Schools for Gifted and Talented Programs

Schools Receive Awards at Reception During Gifted and Talented Education Month

For Immediate Release                                                      Contact: Bill Reinhard, 410-767-0486


Baltimore, MD (February 6, 2014)

Maryland this month is honoring nine schools with  Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education (EGATE) School Awards, which recognize top  elementary, middle, and high school programs.

Now in its fourth year, the EGATE awards spotlight gifted and talented programs aligned with Maryland Criteria for Excellence: Gifted and Talented Program Guidelines and  Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR ) 13A.04.07 Gifted and Talented Education.  Each EGATE school submits a comprehensive application which provides documentation of 21criteria of excellence under four program objectives: student identification, curriculum and instruction, professional development, and program management and evaluation.

The 2013 EGATE schools are:

Central Elementary School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Davidsonville Elementary School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Folger McKinsey Elementary School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Northwest Middle School, Carroll County Public Schools
Milton Somers Middle School, Charles County Public Schools
Capitol Heights Elementary School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Greenbelt Middle School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Mattaponi Elementary School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
Westside Intermediate School, Wicomico County Public Schools

In the four years of the award’s existence, 30 schools from 9 school systems have earned the EGATE status. Members from the Maryland Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education and local school system personnel review and score the EGATE applications, which 
document the school’s gifted and talented program activities over a 15 month period.

This year’s new EGATE schools will be recognized during Maryland’s Gifted and Talented Education month at a reception and awards ceremony on February 27 from 5– 8 p.m. at North County High School in Glen Burnie. 

EGATE schools receive a citation from the Governor, and the EGATE banner to display on their school buildings and websites.  They host celebratory visits from Advisory Council members and MSDE staff and serve as models for other schools that want to achieve this status. 

More information on the EGATE School Awards Program is available at http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/giftedtalented. Schools interested in applying for the 2014 EGATE program will submit applications to MSDE for review by November 21, 2014. 

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