The Center for Talent Development's Gifted Learning Links Program
CTD's Gifted Learning Links Program
Apply for CTD's Gifted Learning Links Program
Our Program

Gifted LearningLinks offers flexibility, independence and innovative learning technologies simply as added benefits; our focus is gifted education.

Center for Talent Development’s Gifted LearningLinks (GLL) offers academically talented students in kindergarten through grade 12 the opportunity to take exceptional enrichment, high school honors, AP®, and university credit courses in a flexible and interactive online setting.

Students can choose courses in many subjects, including English & writing, humanities & social sciences, mathematics, science, technology and world languages. All GLL courses are developed and taught, specifically with gifted students in mind, by “live” teachers with content area expertise and experience teaching gifted students.

Center for Talent Development (CTD) is accredited by the North Central Association commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).  As of August 2011, all of GLL's AP courses have been reviewed and authorized by the College Board.

Family Program
Gifted LearningLinks offers nine-week family programs, designed for students in kindergarten through grade 2, during fall, winter, spring and summer terms. Family courses provide enriching and engaging activities for families to learn together.  Families should plan to engage in core activities and then select from a variety of supplemental and/or extension activities. There will be online real-time discussions, providing a chance for families to share their accomplishments with others in the group.

Enrichment Courses
Gifted LearningLinks offers nine-week enrichment courses, designed for students in grades 3 through 8, during fall, winter, spring and summer terms. These courses are based on a flexible model. Students may have opportunities to interact with other gifted students from around the country (and sometimes the world) as they engage in academically challenging and enriching course material.
[Read more about  Enrichment Courses...]
[Browse current Enrichment Course Offerings...]
[View sample Enrichment Course Syllabi]

Core Essentials Courses
Gifted LearningLinks offers nine-week core essential courses, designed for students in grades 3 through 8, during fall, winter, spring and summer terms. These courses are designed for students who want to master essential subject-area content that goes above and beyond what is traditionally offered at their grade level. Guided by their instructor and using a variety of online tools, students are given the opportunity to work through academically challenging curriculum in language arts, math and science.
[Read more about Core Essentials Courses...]
[Browse current Core Essentials Offerings...]
[View sample Core Essentials Syllabi]

Extracurricular Clubs
Gifted LearningLinks extracurricular clubs are formed through a student proposal and approved by GLL program staff.  Each club offers student leadership opportunities, depending on the club's organization and goals.  GLL extracurricular clubs allow students to have meaningful opportunities to interact not only with their instructors, but also with other gifted classmates.  An adult facilitator aids club leaders in making informed decisions as to what direction the club should take and how to do so.
[Read more about Extracurricular Clubs...]

Honors Elective Courses
Gifted LearningLinks offers one-semester honors elective courses, developed for students in grades 6 through 12, during fall, winter and summer terms. These courses provide students opportunities for in-depth exploration of special topics in the sciences, humanities and social science.  Students work at their own pace, guided by a master teacher who provides personal and individualized feedback as they engage in stimulating courses that may not be available in students' schools.
[Read more about Honors Elective Courses...]
[Browse current Honors Elective Course Offerings...]
[View sample Honors Elective Syllabi]

Honors Courses
Gifted LearningLinks offers nine-month honors courses, developed for students in grades 6 through 12, with monthly start dates. These courses are based on a facilitated independent study model. Students work through intellectually rigorous course work at their own pace, guided by a master teacher who provides personal and individualized feedback. Students also have opportunities to interact with intellectual peers from across the country and around the world through discussion forums and other online learning tools.
[Read more about Honors Courses...]
[Browse current Honors Course Offerings...]
[View current Honors Course Syllabi]

Note: The Accelerated Summer Option (ASO), available from June through August (see chart below), offers students the opportunity to complete a year's worth of Honors coursework in nine weeks.

AP® Courses
Gifted LearningLinks offers nine-month AP® courses, developed for students in grades 9 through 12, with monthly start dates. These courses are based on a facilitated independent study model. Students work through intellectually rigorous course work at their own pace, guided by a master teacher who provides personal and individualized feedback. Students also have opportunities to interact with intellectual peers from across the country and around the world through discussion forums and other online learning tools.
[Read more about AP® Courses...]
[Browse current AP® Course Offerings...]
[View current AP® Course Syllabi]

Note: The Accelerated Summer Option (ASO), available from June through August (see chart below), offers students the opportunity to complete a year's worth of AP® coursework in nine weeks.

University Credit Course

Gifted LearningLinks offers University Credit courses, designed for students in Grades 10 through 12. These courses are based on a facilitated independent study model. Students work through intellectually rigorous course work at their own pace, guided by a master teacher who provides personal and individualized feedback. Students have the opportunities to earn Northwestern University course credit. 
[Read more about our University Credit Course...]


EPGY Courses

Center for Talent Development also offers students in kindergarten through grade 12 the opportunity to take computer-based mathematics and language arts courses that are developed and administered by Stanford University’s Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY).
[Read more about EPGY Courses...]
 

Gifted Learninglinks Programming Options At A Glance

Program Type

Grade Levels

Session

Application Deadline

Start Date

End Date

Time Commitment

Family

Kindergarten - Grade 2

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

September 1

January 1

March 15

June 1

September 15

January 15

April 1

June 15

November 17

March 19

June 3

August 17

2-5 hours per week

Enrichment

Grades 3-8

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

September 1

January 1

March 15

June 1

September 15

January 15

April 1

June 15

November 17

March 19

June 3

August 17

2-5 hours per week

Core Essentials

Grades 3-8

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

September 1

January 1

March 15

June 1

September 15

January 15

April 1

June 15

November 17

March 19

June 3

August 17

2-5 hours per week

Extracurricular Clubs

Grades 3-10

Year-round

The 1st of every month

The 15th of every month

18 weeks from the start date

2-5 hours per week

Independent Study

Grades 3-12

Year-round

 

September 1

January 1

March 15

June 1

 

 

September 15

January 15

April 1

June 15

 

Up to 9 weeks from the start date

2-5 hours per week

Honors Electives

Grades 6-12

Year-round
The 1st of every month The 15th of every month
Up to 18 weeks from the start date
 

4-6 hours per week from start date

Honors and AP®

Grades 6-12

Year-round

The 1st of every month


The 15th of every month

Up to 9 months every month

4-6 hours per week from start date

Honors Electives, Honors and AP®
*Selected Courses only (posted in early March)

Grades 6-12

Accelerated Summer Option

June 1

June 15

August 17

Honors Elective ASO: 8-12 hours per week

Honors/AP ASO: 4-6 hours per day

University Credit

Grades 10-12

Fall

September 23, 2010

September 21, 2010

December 10, 2010

6-8 hours per week


What to Expect