Academics & Wraparound Services

The goal of the Curriculum and Instruction Department is to provide support to teachers and schools as we seek to inspire, nurture, challenge, and prepare our students.

Contact our department when you need information or assistance with:

Advanced Placement
Assessment - State, Local, and Student Learning Objectives (SLO)
College and Career Readiness
Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Pathways
Curriculum
Diplomas for former students
ESOL
Gifted
Instruction
Multi-Tiered System of Supports
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
Title I
Federal Programs
Assessment Calendar

Academics

The goal of the Gainesville City School System academic team is to support evidence-based instructional practices. While implementing the Georgia Standards of Excellence, teachers are encouraged to use a variety of differentiated and innovative strategies. Through areas of focus such as MTSS and PBIS, the department helps supports the priorities of the Gainesville School System strategic plan.

School Improvement

Gainesville City School System offers ongoing support to schools with their continuous school improvement process. Collaboration among school and district leaders provide principals with appropriate resources and professional learning opportunities to address the achievement needs of students experiencing challenges accessing the performance standards.

During the spring of each year, each school conducts a comprehensive needs assessment based on academic achievement data of all students including disaggregated student groups. In addition to reviewing and analyzing achievement data, school personnel will conduct stakeholder surveys, as well as meet with key stakeholders for further insight into the school's greatest needs.

Federal funds are available to provide supplemental services to schools in support of assisting students identified as educationally disadvantaged and at risk of failing to meet state standards. All schools in the Gainesville City School System offer a schoolwide Title I program. Schoolwide programs are focused on the improvement of the entire educational program in a school, with an emphasis on improving the academic achievement of the lowest achieving students.

Special Programs

English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is the state-funded language instruction educational program for eligible English learners (ELs) in grades K-12. ESOL language instruction is focused on developing EL students’ academic English proficiency in each content area of the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE). Differentiated instructional practices, both in ESOL and general education classes, ensure that the language development needs of Georgia’s EL students are met. The goal of the ESOL language instruction educational program for EL students is to increase both English language proficiency (ELP) and academic language proficiency in content-area subject matter. Successful ESOL language programs focus on collaboration and shared accountability for the success of all EL students. There are two ESOL coaches at the elementary level serving multiple schools along with a designated administrator for ESOL at secondary levels. For more information regarding ESOL programs, please contact Shea Ray.

Gifted

The Gainesville City School System is committed to providing its highly talented and gifted students with an education that both fosters and promotes potentials and abilities. Gifted education provides for a differentiated curriculum through which the content, instructional strategies, and expectations of mastery are appropriate for the student. The Gainesville City School System recognizes that highly talented and gifted students may be identified among all ethnic and socioeconomic groups and is committed to the use of multiple criteria for early identification. The Gainesville City Schools Gifted Program seeks to enrich students’ mastery of the GSE by providing instruction incorporating advanced research and communication skills, social and emotional support, and creative and critical thinking. Specific standards for gifted students have been established that align to the regular classroom curriculum. For more information on gifted programs, please contact Dr. Leigh Sears.

Special Education

All eligible students with disabilities must have available to them a free appropriate public education (FAPE) emphasizing special education and related services to meet unique need and prepare for further education, employment, and independent living. As educators, we have an obligation to educate students with disabilities to the best of our ability in compliance with the Individualized Educational Program (IEP). Our students deserve the opportunity to reach their maximum potential, and it is our responsibility to help them get there. We must provide students with experiences that will translate into success. A primary objective is to promote excellence in teaching and to provide guidance in developing plans for students that will create paths leading to preferred post-secondary outcomes. Our students deserve the best that educators can give them. In GCSS, there is a special education lead teacher in each school along with assistance from an assigned special education coordinator serving one or more schools. For more information regarding special education, please contact Dayna Kiley.

To request Special Education Records, please email Starla Coroniti.

Special Education Records Destruction Notice

Gainesville City School System has announced its intention to destroy special education records of students born before January 1, 2002.

These records are no longer needed for education planning purposes and will be destroyed July 1, 2024. The Gainesville City School System will make the Special Education records available to the student or parent (with the student's permission) upon request to the school system's Special Educations Records Department. To request inactive Special Education records, call 770-536-5275 or email Starla Coroniti. Please give at least 48 hours notice to have records ready for pick-up.

Identification will be required to receive these records.

Wraparound Services

The Gainesville City School System believes that children are most successful when the needs of the whole child are met. Students who need interventions, whether those deal with basic needs, physical or emotional health, or family supports, will learn best when those needs are addressed. As such, the school district has a variety of services available to help students and families.

Counseling and Social Work

All schools have a minimum of one full-time counselor on staff. School social workers are also available to support needs beyond those that can be served through counselors or would be more appropriate handled through social work resources. School social workers are well-acquainted with the resources available in the school and community and work to remove barriers to learning by supporting students and families.

Outside Counseling Services

Counseling is provided by many outside providers in our community, but we are fortunate to have several unique opportunities available to our students. Center Point works with the school system to provide interns and can sometimes provide services at no cost to students who meet certain criteria. Each school counselor manages students referred to this program. Family Ties (GMS) and APEX (GMS and GHS) counselors are available to meet with identified students on campus.