Philosophy
Oak Park Elementary School District 97 recognizes that outstanding talents are present in children from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavors. Services for students who are academically talented must be part of an overall educational program. It is our responsibility to discover, nurture, and develop the potential of each student.

We are committed to meeting diverse learner needs through providing an array of service options. These options are designed to maximize the students’ opportunities to develop and demonstrate talent. Academically talented students require differentiated educational services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular education program. These differentiated services, provided by the classroom teacher with support from the Academically Gifted and Talented through Differentiation Resource Teacher (GTD) will afford students further opportunities to meet to the fullest extent essential, transdisciplinary qualities and indicators of a lifelong learner as established by our district. This philosophy will guide these resource teachers, administrators, and teachers in the K-8 buildings to consistently implement the program in each District 97 school.

We encourage continuous staff development and collaboration among teachers, parents, and administrators, to better meet the needs of the academically gifted and talented students through the philosophy of differentiated instruction, strategies, and practices associated with differentiation.