# October 13th - Board of Education Gifted Programming Presentation

At the Williamsville Central School District Board of Education meeting on November 5, 2026, Director of Student Services Dr. Denise Stappenbeck presented updates to gifted programming. She described the district’s four-level service model and a new Collaboration Lab (Co-Lab) pilot for students in grades 1–6, meeting 75 minutes weekly. The pilot uses CoGAT screening alongside achievement data and teacher input to identify students who may need additional challenge, with a curriculum focused on critical and creative thinking, communication, depth and complexity, and scholarly inquiry. The district is holding monthly team check-ins, reviewing common assessments, and planning a culminating activity to help evaluate the program.

Board members asked about standardized-test administration and interpretation, equitable identification, student fit and choice, twice-exceptional students, and whether screening should be offered to all students. Stappenbeck said the district will continue reviewing the process and may consider an opt-out approach in the future. Riverside Insights was identified as the CoGAT testing vendor. No contract award, procurement action, spending decision, or budget allocation was identified.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Education
**Published:** November 05, 2026

### Sources
- [October 13th - Board of Education Gifted Programming Presentation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE4g21s1srU) - Williamsville Central School District