Project ELEVATE is a Jacob K. Javits USDOE collaborative grant between UCF and Seminole County Public Schools. The 2.4 million grant award was approved for 5 years (2015-2020).

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Objectives of Project ELEVATE (English Learner Excellence Evolving through Advanced Teacher Education) include the identification of underserved, economically disadvantaged and English Learners, in 12 schools selected from Title I contexts in Seminole County.

 

Both the Professional development and school based sessions include the simulated Gifted classroom developed within Project ELEVATE, using TeachLivE, with students scripted from real case studies within SCPS. These case studies include five students who vary in levels and types of giftedness, and include English language learners from five different countries or cultures around the world. Research on Project ELEVATE in 2017 has shown an impacted the climate of the treatment schools and has led to an increase in referrals for Talent Development, and to students being identified and served in Gifted Classrooms (36% growth in the five schools, 120% growth for ELL Gifted, and 126% growth for ED Gifted). 

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Project ELEVATE has also increased outreach to students including an after-school enrichment program at each school site – Project ASSIST – which recruits UCF service learning students to work with the elementary school gifted students. A two-week summer camp, UCF ADAGE (Academic Discoveries and Adventures for Gifted Enrichment) enables gifted elementary school students to spend a week on the UCF campus learning from faculty and UCF graduate students. Week two is hosted at a SCPS school, and includes a variety of special interest courses for students taught by SCPS gifted teachers.

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The results of Project ELEVATE have been demonstrated and presented at the World Conference for Gifted and Talented Children, the National Association for Gifted Children, the Comparative and the International Education Society, and the Florida Association for the Gifted. PROJECT ELEVATE has received national recognition with the selection of the SCPS Project Director, Jeanette Lukens, as a Leader to Learn From (link here), with Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin by Education Week.