Services.

CLUE (Creative Learning in a Unique Environment) is an education program designed to meet the needs of academically talented and gifted students in the Shelby County Schools. The curriculum incorporates both group and individual strategies focusing on creative thinking, critical thinking, communication, leadership, group dynamics, and problem solving. CLUE currently serves preschool, primary, intermediate, middle, and high school students. Placement is based on individual assessment. Questions regarding CLUE services may be addressed to the local school's CLUE teacher or to the Department of Exceptional Children.

PreK and KK
CLUE ​Enrichment

Special education direct gifted service provided by a special education gifted teacher in two sessions per week for students who are performing above grade level and meet district requirements for this pull-out program.

Local Enrichment Program

Direct gifted service provided by a special education gifted teacher for academically talented students. Students are identified using local criteria (no IEP or Individual Education Program needed).

State Identified Gifted Services

Special education direct gifted service provided by a special education gifted teacher for students who are both academically talented and intellectually gifted. These students are identified using the Tennessee Intellectually Gifted Criteria that requires students to qualify for eligibility for an IEP.

Student Eligibility for CLUE

Pre-K and KK CLUE Enrichment

All of our protocols have changed, as the state is not allowing any face-to-face testing at this time. We will not be requiring an IEP for PreK CLUE. However, our new plans are on hold until students are allowed back into school buildings.

​For questions, please email us at clue@scsk12.org.

Local Enrichment Program 1-4

Students identified for the local enrichment program receive the same services as children who were identified via the state process. Eligibility for this program is determined first by successful completion of the district's universal screener. Students in Kindergarten and first grade must then achieve qualifying scores on an Instructional Reading Inventory. This assessment requires students to read and comprehend two grade levels above their current grade placement. Qualifying scores increase as the year progresses. Students in grade 2 are tested using the CompEfficiency and CBMathCAP tests within the Illuminate/FastBridge computer assessment program. Students must score within the range of 90th-99th national percentile to be considered for placement.

All current third grader CLUE students will begin the process towards being considered for a full comprehensive evaluation for a gifted IEP at some point before fourth grade.  To continue to fourth grade CLUE, students must meet eligibility requirements set by the state of Tennessee.

State Identified Gifted Services

All students in grades 3-8 will participate in the district's universal screener to determine who needs intervention and who needs enrichment in our schools. Students who score within the range of 90th-99th national percentile on either the aReading or aMath assessment will bring home a letter notifying parents of their participation in the second phase of testing for enrichment, which is provided through our gifted services called CLUE.

Students who pass the second phase by achieving within the range of 90th-99th national percentile on both the CompEfficiency and CBMathCAP assessments in the Illuminate/FastBridge program will be more closely screened to determine next steps towards a comprehensive evaluation for a gifted IEP based on academic need and parental preference.

This process includes checklists that both the parent and the child’s teacher must complete. If a comprehensive evaluation is indicated, then the student is referred for IQ and achievement testing conducted by SCS school psychologists. Parents may also choose to have a child privately tested, as long as the test used meets state standards.

​The state criteria requires a CLUE administrator to input data into a Gifted Grid that takes into consideration a combination of factors, including scores from the gifted checklists, IQ scores (minimum 123), achievement scores (multiple scores in the 90th percentile), and creativity. A meeting will be held with the parents to discuss results of testing for every child that completes the assessment process.

We Promise You the Best

Methods and strategies used within the CLUE curriculum emphasize the belief that gifted and academically talented students must be active participants in their own learning. The CLUE teacher functions as a facilitator, guide, and confidant. Services for gifted and academically talented students are provided through a variety of models, and parents are a significant partner with the school in determining the best support for a gifted student.