On January 13, 2020, the New Jersey legislature passed the Strengthening Gifted Education Act. This bill requires New Jersey public schools to identify gifted and talented students in grades K-12 and provide appropriate educational services. Monroe Township Public Schools complies with the Strengthening Gifted Education Act by offering Talented and Gifted (TAG) services. Eligibility varies by grade level, and students must be re-identified each school year. The Monroe Township Public School TAG program strives to provide a challenging curriculum while enhancing student development.

The Monroe Township Public School’s TAG program is a standards-based curriculum centered on collaborative planning, student goals, and individualized learning plans. Unlike traditional classes, TAG services aim to provide academic rigor to supplement the skills taught in a conventional setting.

Below is additional information on how students are screened for the TAG Program by grade level.

Screening for elementary TAG students starts at the kindergarten level. TAG students are identified using assessments by FastBridge (aReading/aMath), running records, and classroom screeners. Running records is a data collection tool provided by Linkit! that anatomizes data based on student progression on Schoolwide Benchmark Assessments. Running records, by Linkit!, then classifies students based on reading level. Classroom screenings are based on instructional observations performed by the teacher. To help meet the needs of these kindergarten students, TAG teachers will provide supplemental materials to enhance student learning in their regular classroom setting.

Students identified as TAG in first grade will be invited to a partial enrichment program where students are removed from normal instruction beginning in February. This program is designed to have TAG students meet with a TAG specialist once a week for sixty minutes. During these sessions, TAG students will follow the PETS Curriculum, Primary Education Thinking Skills Curriculum, which emphasizes analysis, synthesis, and evaluation skills. In addition to providing a partial program, regular area teachers will provide differentiated material to support student learning. Students not identified as TAG entering first grade will continue to be screened throughout the year. Screeners will include assessments by FastBridge (aReading/aMath), Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), running records, and classroom screeners. Like kindergarten, first-grade students identified by these screeners will be placed into TAG groups for second grade.

Students identified as TAG entering second grade will be invited to a TAG program where students are removed from normal instruction. The second-grade program is designed to have TAG students work with a TAG specialist once a week for seventy-five minutes. TAG students will follow the PETS Curriculum, which continues to help students develop critical thinking skills. Students not identified as TAG entering second grade will continue to be screened throughout the year. Screeners will include assessments by CogAt, TOMAGS, Linkit! Form C assessments, CBM Reading, and classroom screeners. Like first-grade, second-grade students identified by these screeners will be placed into TAG groups for third grade.

Students identified as TAG entering third and fourth grade will be invited to a TAG program where students are removed from normal instruction. The third and fourth grade programs are designed to have TAG students meet with a TAG specialist up to three times per week, depending on whether students qualify for one or both advanced curriculums - Big Ideas and Big Ideas Math. The Big Ideas curriculum is an integrated curriculum that focuses on reading, writing, science, social studies, and engineering for three hours per week. Big Ideas Math focuses on mathematical concepts once a week for seventy minutes. In addition, third and fourth grade students who have not been identified as TAG will be screened throughout the school year.

Screeners for third and fourth grade students will include CogAt, TOMAGS, Linkit Form C assessments, Running Records, CBM Reading, IXL, and classroom screeners. Students identified by these screeners will be placed into TAG groups.

It’s important to remember that students need to be re-identified each school year for TAG services. Being identified for TAG services for one school year does not guarantee TAG students will be eligible for TAG services the next school year.

For additional information about TAG classes at the elementary level, contact:

Ms. Kathleen Zoranski at kzoranski@monroetwp.k12.nj.us (Radix and Whitehall)

Ms. Jessica Fensch at jfensch@monroetwp.k12.nj.us (Oak Knoll and Holly Glen)

The TAG Program at the Middle School transitions students from a removal-from-classroom model to an immersive learning experience. Students entering middle school are screened for TAG services using multiple measures. These measures include local assessments, aptitude screeners, and classroom screeners. Williamstown Middle School offers TAG course in advisory for fifth and sixth grades and advanced classes in grades seven and eight. Our fifth and sixth grade TAG advisory class teaches students to think critically using the Action Based Problem-Solving curriculum. In seventh and eighth grade, our advanced courses emphasize students taking ownership of their learning and challenging students to develop a deeper understanding by working with more rigorous content.

The Middle School uses a variety of screeners to identify TAG students. Screeners include the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA), Linkit! Form C Math/ELA, CogAT, SAGES, and classroom screeners. Linkit! Form C Math and ELA are assessments that identify student mastery of the learning standards. Grades received by middle school students on their report cards are not a metric used in the screening process. Classroom screeners are based on instructional observations performed by content-related teachers. The data collected by these screeners are used to generate identification points. The total number of identification points will determine eligibility for TAG Advisory and advanced courses.

Students will be reevaluated each school year for TAG services. Being identified for TAG services for one school year does not guarantee TAG students will be re-enrolled or eligible for TAG services the next school year.

For additional information about the TAG program at the Middle School Level, please contact Mr. Baker at rbaker@monroetwp.k12.nj.us

Williamstown High School has a comprehensive honor and advanced placement program for advanced learners in various content areas. As incoming ninth-graders, students are eligible to take honors-level courses. Eligibility is based on multiple measures, such as NJSLA scores, benchmark assessments, and classroom screeners. Students can continue on the honors track through their high school career if they meet the various prerequisites to qualify for specific courses. For more information on prerequisites, please review the Williamstown High School Program of Studies.

In addition to honors-level courses, Williamstown High School has a wide-ranging set of Advanced Placement (AP) courses available starting in 10th grade to eligible students. AP courses allow students to complete college-level work while still attending high school. AP students can earn college credits by taking a summative evaluation provided by College Board. Students who earn AP credits from multiple courses can graduate from college early. Below are AP classes offered at Williamstown High School:

AP Art History
 AP Biology/Lab
AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry /Lab
AP Computer Science
AP Computer Science Principles
AP French
AP Seminar & Research
AP Physics I
AP English Language and Composition
AP US History I
AP Calculus BC
AP Human Geography
AP Studio Art III
AP Statistics
AP Environmental Science
AP Music Theory and Composition
AP Physics “C”/Lab
AP US History II
AP Psychology
AP Spanish
AP Studio Art IV
AP US Government and Politics

Williamstown High School also offers college courses to students through our dual credit program (High School Plus). The courses approved for college credit are usually honors or AP high school courses that have been certified as containing all the components of the college-level course for which credit will be awarded. Students earning a grade of “85” or above will receive a college transcript from the sponsored college. Williamstown’s dual credit agreement is affiliated with Camden County College.

Williamstown High School offers students a variety of dual credit courses, and to access our complete list of dual credit classes, visit our Program of Studies. Students taking dual credit courses and earning a grade of "85" or above, as per transcripts, will receive college credit from Camden County College. 

It’s important to remember that students need to meet prerequisites each school year to be eligible for honors and AP classes. Being identified for honors or AP classes for one school year does not guarantee students will be eligible for honors and AP classes the next school year.

For additional information on AP Courses or AP Course requirements, please contact the Williamstown High School Counseling Department.

For additional information on Dual Credit/High School Plus, please contact Mr. Francisco Olaya at folaya@monroetwp.k12.nj.us.