GATE

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, Dry Creek will no longer be identifying students as Gifted and Talented and placing qualifying students in GATE clusters. This decision is due to several factors, including but not limited to: 

• Funding change
  • during the 2013-2014 school year, California changed its funding model to the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF, still used today), and GATE was no longer categorically funded
  • Dry Creek continued funding GATE out of our general budget from 2013-2026
• Educational shifts
  • Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards are rigorous and provide ample opportunities for all students to extend their learning
  • All students gained access to Honors, AP, IB, and other high level classes, and high schools stopped using any GATE identification to determine higher level courses in high school
• Reduced Professional Development opportunities for teachers
  • as funding diminished, and programs shifted, the demand for high quality, GATE specific professional development were reduced

As always, any parent who finds their child requires opportunities for adding depth and complexity, higher level thinking challenges, extension activities, and/or opportunities for creativity in their education should always schedule a time to meet with their child's teacher. Together, parents and teachers can review strengths and areas for concern, data, academic performance, and social/emotional needs. Dry Creek staff are here to partner with our families to support our kids. 

Students who were identified GATE prior to this school year will continue to be clustered to the best of our ability with teachers who have been trained in best practices for GATE as they progress through their schooling.