Laurel Springs School Launches New Distance Learning High School -- Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented

Innovative online school offers personalized learning for gifted students often overlooked in traditional school settings

Ojai, CA (PRWEB) February 25, 2008 -- Laurel Springs School, the leader in personalized distance learning education for K-12 students, today announced the launch of a new online high school dedicated to the advancement of gifted and talented students -- Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented.

As a renowned leader in online distance learning for K-12 homeschool students, Laurel Springs School has been educating gifted and talented students since 1991. After years of hands on work with gifted and talented students, it became evident to Laurel Springs School that there was a need for a comprehensive and innovative school for these students. Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented stems from more than seventeen years of Laurel Springs' educational excellence. Laureate School offers gifted high school students around the world one-to-one instruction through an academically demanding curriculum. Gifted students have the opportunity to learn skills and concepts on more intense levels of analysis and exploration, to work closely with a personal advisor and a teaching team that includes core teacher, personal advisor, and to profit from an intensive college placement service. The Laureate School experience is designed to prepare gifted high school students for top colleges and universities.

Gifted and talented students are those who display an extraordinary or accelerated understanding of topics presented to them in school. The National Association for Gifted and Talented Children (Nagc.org) reports that approximately three million children are considered to be gifted, which is six percent of the entire student population in America.

"Laurel Springs School works with gifted and talented students every day, but the demand for a unique school, focusing on meeting the specific needs of gifted students, was apparent. We are excited to be able to offer Laureate School to those individuals," said Marilyn Mosley-Gordanier, executive director and founder of Laurel Springs School and Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented.

In traditional schools, gifted students are often overlooked because they continuously perform well, or they fall behind because they become bored at school without a challenge. Teachers and staff dedicate more time and energy to struggling students, as The No Child Left Behind Act encourages. Currently, the only way schools cater to the needs of these exceptional students is to offer enrichment courses for two hours each week. Two hours a week is less than 10 percent of a child's typical school week.

Unfortunately, the NCLB Act is leaving the gifted and talented behind. According to the U.S. Department of Education, only two cents of every one hundred dollars spent on education supports gifted and talented students (1993). The Davidson Institute, a non-profit organization that offers support to gifted students and their families, reports that currently 34 states require gifted programs, of which only eight are fully funded by the state. On the other hand, of the 16 states that do not require any gifted programming, more than half offer some type of funding.

Kayte Hamilton, PhD, was appointed director of Laureate School by Marilyn Mosley-Gordanier. Hamilton brings more than 20 years of experience teaching and working with gifted learners. "I'm proud to be involved with an online school offering gifted students a challenging curriculum with highly trained teachers and differentiated programs of study. Laureate School is ideal for today's mobile student who won't be limited by the four walls of a classroom," said Hamilton.

Laureate School is an institution that has made its primary focus catering to the needs of those students who excel in the classroom. Laureate School offers:

• Opportunities for creative thinking, innovation and in-depth exploration of topics
• Freedom to pursue individual interests, while adapting them to curriculum
• Potential for acceleration, flexible pacing and minimal repetition of material
• Guidance, counseling and self-development opportunities
• Intensive college placement services and mentoring

For more information about Laureate School, visit http://www.laureateschool.com or call us at (800) 377-5890 ext. 123 or 129.

About Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented
Laureate School for the Gifted and Talented was founded by the accredited Laurel Springs School to provide a distance learning path for gifted and talented high school students. With a personalized home curriculum, Laureate School offers a wide variety of challenging educational opportunities to develop the intellect, encourage achievement and nurture personal development. Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), our courses are certified by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the University of California (UC). http://www.laureateschool.com

About Laurel Springs School
Laurel Springs School, founded in 1991, is an accredited private school offering distance learning curricula and teacher services for students in grades K-12. Located in Ojai, California, Laurel Springs serves students across the nation and in 43 countries. Current enrollment is 3,000 students, with more than 2,000 students enrolled in the online high school program. Laurel Springs uses web-based communication tools, a standards-based curriculum, and personalized instruction to offer students the highest quality home education experience. http://www.laurelsprings.com

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