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GIFTED/TALENTED PROGRAMS

  • Schools for Advanced Studies   

     

  • Overview

    Schools for Advanced Studies demonstration sites receive the SAS designation for their exemplary Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) implementation. The Schools for Advanced Studies designation, initially implemented in the 1998-1999 school year, was created to acknowledge exemplary school models of innovative, equitable and effective GATE practices districtwide. By providing high-quality differentiated instruction with an emphasis on depth, complexity, acceleration and novelty, SAS sites offer high-level academic opportunities that meet the unique educational needs of K-12 gifted learners, identified in the Intellectual Ability, High Achievement Ability, Specific Academic Ability, Creative Ability and Leadership Ability categories or verified based on critical thinking/achievement.

    The SAS model, which is in alignment with the California Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program Resource Guide and the State Board of Education Recommended Standards for Programs for Gifted and Talented Students, explicitly supports the District's goal to ensure equitable GATE participation for underrepresented students. It is District policy that resident schools must undergo a rigorous application process every five years to obtain or maintain the SAS designation. Independent charter schools and magnet programs are not eligible for the SAS designation.

    Transportation services are not provided for SAS.

    Please contact the GATE/SAS coordinator at the SAS site directly to inquire about the services offered at the school for gifted/high-ability learners. Each SAS site must adhere to State and District GATE/SAS requirements; however, schools have flexibility in the clustering model, thematic emphasis, differentiated instructional strategies and enrichment opportunities provided to students. Detailed school information can be found on the District's School Search Tool at https://GoTo.LAUSD.net (click Explore).

     

Student selection, enrollment and placement in the site's SAS gifted/talented program at Affiliated Charter Schools must be conducted in accordance with State and District legal requirements established for charter schools. If a student is selected for a designated SAS site through this Affiliated Charter process and meets one of the SAS eligibility criteria, this student must be accommodated in the site's SAS gifted/talented program. For Affiliated Charter Schools enrollment procedures, please refer to the Affiliated Charter Schools section of the Choices brochure or eChoices.lausd.net.

If a parent would like their child to attend a Schools for Advanced Studies (SAS) site within their Zone of Choice (ZOC), the 5th, 6th, or 8th grade student must select that site as their first choice during the ZOC selection process. If a student is assigned to a designated SAS site through this ZOC process and meets one of the SAS eligibility criteria, this student must be accommodated in the site's SAS gifted/talented program. Placement appeals through the ZOC office will not be considered if the student did not select the SAS site as their first choice on the ZOC application. For information about Zones of Choice, please contact the ZOC office at (213) 241-0466 or https://achieve.lausd.net/zoc.

List of SAS Sites (English)

List of SAS Sites (Spanish)

SAS FAQ (eChoices website)

SAS FAQ (English)

SAS FAQ (Spanish)

What's the difference between Gifted Magnets and Schools for Advanced Studies?

2023-2024 Choices Brochure (English)

2023-2024 Choices Brochure (Spanish)

2022-2023 Choices School Fairs Flyer (English)

2022-2023 Choices School Fairs Flyer (Spanish)

Please note that the on-time Choices application period has closed.

The on-time 2023-2024 Choices SAS application period will be available from October 3 - November 18, 2022. No formal application is required for qualified students residing within school boundaries since SAS is the school site's GATE instructional program for its students. (Contact the school directly for more information.) Students who reside within L.A. Unified boundaries but outside the site's residential boundaries may apply through the Choices process. To apply to an SAS site for the 2023-2024 school year, the parent/guardian may complete the Choices application online at GoTo.LAUSD.net. The Choices brochure contains the paper application for SAS sites and is available October 3, 2022 at every school, Local District, Community of Schools and Parent Community Services office. The application and verification form, if applicable, are due November 18, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian of private school, independent charter and non-L.A. Unified applicants to verify that the student's current school of attendance has submitted the Verification of Eligibility (SAS Kindergarten) or Verification of Eligibility (Grades 1-12) by Friday, November 18, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. The 2023-2024 late Choices application period will begin February 1, 2023.

On-time Choices applications may be submitted: October 3, 2022 - November 18, 2022 (no late applications accepted for the on-time process)

On-time SAS Verification of Eligibility forms, if applicable, may be submitted: October 3, 2022 - November 18, 2022 (no late forms accepted for the on-time process)

Email receipts for online applicants will be sent to parents/guardians: October 3, 2022 - November 18, 2022 (when the online application is submitted)

Confirmation/Correction Letters for on-time applications will be sent to parents/guardians: Mid-December 2022

Late Choices applications may be submitted: Beginning February 1, 2023

Program Eligibility Letters will be sent to parents/guardians: February 2023

Selection/Waiting List Letters will be sent to parents/guardians in March 2023

Deadline for selected students to accept or decline placement: April 2023

Specific dates will be posted, when available, at https://apply.lausd.net

Late Application FAQ (English)

Late Application FAQ (Spanish) 

 

To apply to an SAS site for the 2023-2024 school year after the on-time deadline, the parent/guardian may complete a late application online at GoTo.LAUSD.net or using the paper application in the Choices brochure. The late paper application may also be downloaded from the GoTo.LAUSD.net website. A late application may be submitted any time from February 1, 2023, through the fourth week of the 2023-2024 school year.

The Verification of Eligibility for students applying to a Gifted Magnet or SAS site during the late application period will be processed at the school site. School site personnel will contact the applicant if/when a space becomes available and verification is needed. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian of private school, independent charter and non-L.A. Unified students to ensure that the completed Verification of Eligibility form is submitted to the SAS site directly, if/when selected.

Verification criteria and forms are available on the eChoices website. (DO NOT send verification forms for late applications to Unified Enrollment.) Affiliated Charter SAS sites do NOT participate in the verification process; contact the Affiliated Charter SAS site directly for more information on its GATE/SAS services and support.

  • SAS Verification of Eligibility Process

     

In January 2023, the District will conduct an online verification of eligibility process for current on-time District applicants to SAS, including students enrolled in the City of Angels Virtual Academy. A Verification of Eligibility form is not required for students currently enrolled in a District site. Principals will receive an online list of SAS applicants who do not meet gifted identification or test score criteria (if applicable). Principals will work with the GATE coordinator and teachers to verify these applicants based on the four critical thinking and problem-solving skills criteria. Parents/guardians are encouraged to speak to school staff regarding eligibility criteria before submitting an application. Late online verification for the on-time application period will not be accepted; the recommendation submitted by the administrator is final. For the late application period, verification for District applicants will occur if/when a late/waitlist seat is offered. This verification process is conducted between the SAS site and the current District school of attendance.

A Verification of Eligibility form is required for students currently enrolled in a private school, independent charter or non-District school, including incoming kindergarten students enrolled in a non-District preschool or Transitional Kindergarten (TK). Two versions of the form are available based on grade level, SAS Kindergarten and Grades 1-12. Forms are available for download at https://eChoices.LAUSD.net or printed from the Choices "Print Confirmation" application receipt. For the on-time process, the parent/guardian must submit the Verification of Eligibility form as well as complete the Choices application by November 18, 2022. Please refer to https://eChoices.LAUSD.net (click "Who is eligible?) or the Choices brochure for detailed directions about submitting the form, if applicable. Late forms will not be accepted for the on-time application period; the recommendation submitted by the administrator is final. For the late application period, verification for non-District applicants will occur if/when a late/waitlist seat is offered. This verification process will require that the non-District school submit the Verification of Eligibility form directly to the SAS site. (DO NOT send the Verification of Eligibility form for late applicants to Unified Enrollment.)

Verification of Eligibility Forms (Late Application Period)

Late Verification of Eligibility (Grades 1-12) form - English

Late Verification of Eligibility (SAS Kindergarten) form - English

Late Verification of Eligibility (Grades 1-12) form - Spanish

Late Verification of Eligibility (SAS Kindergarten) form - Spanish

 

A process has been developed to assist District staff in verifying the eligibility of incoming kindergarten applicants to SAS who are not currently enrolled in preschool or TK. Parents/guardians must review the Parent/Guardian Guide and Eligibility Exemplars. The parent/guardian must submit the verification evidence as well as complete the Choices application by November 18, 2022. Late evidence will not be accepted; the recommendation determination by District personnel is final. For the late application period, parents/guardians of applicants who are not enrolled in preschool or TK, may submit the verification portfolio prior to being offered a late/waitlist seat. Please follow the directions below; email GATE@lausd.net if there are questions.

Informational Guides for SAS Kindergarten Applicants NOT Enrolled in Preschool/TK

Parent/Guardian Guide for Late Applications - English

Eligibility Exemplars - English

Parent/Guardian Guide for Late Applications - Spanish

Eligibility Exemplars - Spanish

 

A process has been developed to assist District staff in verifying the eligibility of homeschooled applicants to SAS who do not have a verifying organization. (Homeschooled applicants with a verifying organization, e.g., independent charter school, must follow procedures for SAS applicants not currently attending an L.A. Unified school.) For more information about the verification process for homeschooled applicants, please email GATE@lausd.net.

Informational Guides for SAS Homeschool Applicants 

Parent/Guardian Guide for Late Applications - English

Parent/Guardian Guide for Late Applications - Spanish