Jordan District added a half-time gifted specialist to every elementary school's budget

RIVERTON — Jordan School District's 2026-27 budget carries a half-time gifted-and-talented specialist for each of its elementary schools, one line in a spending plan whose districtwide expenditures for the year are projected at $705.5 million 43.

The budget presentation for the year ending June 30, 2027 lists "0.5 FTE Gifted and Talented Specialist per elementary school" among the year's operational changes 4. The minutes of the June 9 board meeting describe the change as "additional FTE hired in Human Resources, Special Education, and the elementary Gifted & Talented program, offset by eliminating five full-time District positions" 3. The board adopted the 2026-27 proposed budget that night on a motion by Lisa Dean, seconded by Bryce Dunford, by unanimous vote; the gifted line was not voted on separately 3.

**Four options presented, one funded**

At a March 10 study session, Carolyn Gough, administrator of Teaching and Learning, introduced a follow-up on gifted and talented services, and Rebecca Smith, then listed in the minutes as the district's Gifted & Talented/ALPS consultant, presented a review of the program 2. The options put to the board were site-based specialists in every school, from quarter time to full time; universal testing in second grade; ALPS in every feeder with transportation; and specialty schools in the north and/or south of the district 2.

Staff said specialists could be in elementary schools as early as the next year, and that the program could expand to middle schools in 2027-28 2. At the end of the report, First Vice President Bryce Dunford recommended that all four options be added to the 2026-27 budget discussion 2. Of the four, the budget document adopted in June carries the half-time specialist at each elementary school 4.

**What the department runs**

The district's Gifted and Talented Department describes its mission as promoting targeted services for identified students, qualified teachers who take part in ongoing professional development, and learning environments that include rigor, critical thinking and depth and complexity 5. Its staff page lists Rebecca Smith as administrator and Jennifer Staley as administrative assistant 5.

The department's elementary ALPS program — Advanced Learning Placement for Students — places students full time at a magnet location, with one class per grade level designated an ALPS classroom, and students enter through an assessment process 6. Transportation is not provided to ALPS schools; parents may join an optional carpool list 6.

The department has scheduled optional ALPS information meetings for parents: an in-person session on Thursday, Nov. 12, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and again from 6 to 7 p.m. with Spanish translation, at the Jordan District Auxiliary Services Building, 7905 S. Redwood Road, Entrance C; and virtual sessions on Wednesday, Nov. 11, Tuesday, Nov. 17 with Spanish translation, and Tuesday, Dec. 1, each from 6 to 7 p.m. 5.

The district also runs the gifted and talented endorsement itself: four courses of three credit hours each — EDUC 5400, 5430, 5440 and 5420 — on Tuesday afternoons from 4:15 to 7:15 p.m., in a mix of live and asynchronous sessions, open to teachers, teacher specialists, coaches, counselors, psychologists and administrators 7.

**What the district says the initiative is**

The district's Nov. 5 announcement describes the initiative as "dedicated to supporting high-ability and gifted elementary school students across the District," and says the specialists "bring targeted programs, teacher support, and rigorous student challenges directly to the classroom" 1.

**What the documents do not say**

Neither the budget document nor the June 9 minutes gives the cost of the specialists, the number of positions funded, the number now filled, or a date by which every elementary school will have one 34. The March presentation put a possible expansion to middle schools in 2027-28; the budget document adopted in June carries no middle-school line 24.