GATE » GATE/SAS Program at VHTPA

GATE/SAS Program at VHTPA

At Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy (VHTPA), our priority is to provide students with an academically rigorous and inclusive educational curriculum and environment which provides and creates opportunities for student college, career, and future readiness. Through our Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program, our students are offered differentiated, data-driven, inclusive, and culturally relevant curriculum and a variety of course options such as Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and college courses at our partner school Los Angeles Harbor College (LAHC).
 
GATE Instruction
  • 89% of students currently enrolled at VHTPA are identified as "Gifted".
  • GATE students are grouped within the regular classroom for instruction in clusters; each class is composed of at least 15 gifted students, per LAUSD policy.
  • All staff members receive 16 hours of GATE-specific professional development annually. 
  • Our teachers design and implement differentiated curriculum that is responsive to our students, specifically targeting their learning styles, cognition, skills, interests, and cultures. Instructional techniques utilized in all classrooms include: 
    • Depth of Knowledge Questioning (Inquiry)
    • Project-Based Learning 
    • Depth of Complexity/Bloom's Taxonomy (Critical and High Order Thinking Skills; Evaluate, Analyze, Apply, Synthesize, Understand, Recall)  
    • Socio-Emotional Learning (Self Awareness, Self-Management, Self-Efficacy, Responsible Decision-Making, Growth Mindset, Social Awareness)
GATE Program Foci
GATE SEL 2024-2025Screening and Identification of Students
Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy (VHTPA) continues to screen and identify gifted students using a process that is equitable, comprehensive and ongoing, which involves all stakeholders: Families, Teachers, the Student, and the GATE Screening Committee, composed of our principal, Mrs. Desiree Douglas Montoya, our Gifted Coordinator, Ms. Laprea Smith, and our School Counselors, Mrs. Philice McElroy, Mr. Sergio Magadan, and Mrs. Brianna Cobian. 
 
Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
An area of development for GATE students is in social emotional learning; due to the perfectionism, self-esteem, and organizational aspects of being identified as "gifted". Our instruction includes social emotional competency to ensure student holistic health and success. 
 
Gifted Academic Instruction: Depth, Complexity, Novelty, and Acceleration
As a result of successful implementation of depth, complexity, novelty, and acceleration prompts for instruction, according to 2023-2024 Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Data, 97% of students at VHTPA met or exceeded grade level standards in English Language Arts (ELA) and 85% of students met or exceeded grade level standards in Math. 
 
Please email Ms. Laprea Smith at [email protected] if you would like to refer your student for GATE testing, are interested in receiving resources, and/or you have any questions about the GATE program.
 
LAUSD GATE Website: https://achieve.lausd.net/gate