Gifted LearningLinks Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gifted LearningLinks?
Go to Program Description.

Why should a gifted student enroll?
Go to Benefits and Accreditation.

What are the admissions criteria for Gifted LearningLinks?
Go to Eligibility.

How are Gifted LearningLinks applications reviewed?

The Gifted LearningLinks staff reviews each application submitted in its entirety. The Program Coordinator considers all submitted test scores, essays, report cards and teacher recommendations when making final admissions decisions.

Can you receive credit for Gifted LearningLinks courses?
Yes. Go to Accreditation or Benefits.

What is the cost of a Gifted LearningLinks course?
Go to Policies & Fees.

Who teaches Gifted LearningLinks courses?
The majority of Gifted LearningLinks teachers are high school teachers in the Midwest (largely Chicagoland) who teach the same course or type of course at their local high school. Other teachers are college professors who teach the content area to students at colleges and universities.

What kind of evaluation do you receive in a Gifted LearningLinks course?
Evaluation methods and grading criteria are detailed in the syllabus for each course, and each student will receive both grades throughout the course and a final grade reflecting his or her work throughout the entire course. Students also receive a written evaluation from the teacher, detailing the work accomplished, grades received, and recommendations for further study. In addition, students receive a transcript reflecting the final grade and high school credit granted. Students may request a copy of the evaluation and transcript for their high schools.

What is the time commitment for a Gifted LearningLinks course?

While independent learning provides students with the flexibility to schedule study time around their other academic and personal commitments, GLL students must be able to devote the appropriate amount of time per week to study for their courses:

• Enrichment (grades 3 to 8) – 1 to 3 hours per week

• Honors/AP (grades 6 to 12) – 4 to 6 hours per week

• Accelerated Summer Option (grades 6 to 12) – 4 to 6 hours per day

as well as plan ahead and meet all assignment and test deadlines.

Will I finish my Gifted LearningLinks course in nine months?
Students enrolling in Gifted LearningLinks courses can finish in nine months by allotting four to six hours per week for completion of assignments and by following instructor deadlines.

Who succeeds in the Gifted LearningLinks courses?
Successful Gifted LearningLinks students must be self-starters, with the initiative to begin a course and the persistence to complete it. They must be motivated to work on assignments alone, without prodding. And, they must have the time in their schedules to work on course assignments on a regular basis.

How do I apply/qualify for financial aid?
Go to Policies & Fees.

How do you contact the Gifted LearningLinks teacher?
At the beginning of the course, each student receives a NetId and password which gives them access to their course site.  Teacher contact information may be found in the menu under Staff Information.  Gifted LearningLinks teachers will email and/or call students and their parents during the first week of the course to answer any questions and set up contact times. Many teachers recommend email as a good way of maintaining contact, but contact methods should be discussed with the teacher during week one.

Questions specific to the Gifted LearningLinks

Accelerated Summer Option (LLASO)

What is the difference between the Gifted LearningLinks Accelerated Summer Option and the traditional Gifted LearningLinks summer session?

The Gifted LearningLinks Accelerated Summer Option allows students to complete high school honors-level courses in six weeks, rather than nine months. Students in this program can start a Gifted LearningLinks class in the summer and finish it before school starts in the fall. Click here for more differences between the programs.

What kind of evaluation do you receive in an LLASO course?

Evaluation methods and grading criteria are detailed in the syllabus for each course, and each student will receive both grades throughout the course and a final grade reflecting his or her work throughout the entire course. At the end of weeks 2 and 4, students will receive written progress reports from their teachers. At the end of the course, students will receive a written final evaluation, detailing the work accomplished, grades received, and recommendations for further study. In addition, students will receive a transcript reflecting the final grade and high school credit granted. Students may request a copy of the evaluation and transcript for their high schools.

What is the time commitment for an LLASO course?

Students in the Gifted LearningLinks Accelerated Summer Program are expected to devote several hours a day to coursework. Serious commitment is necessary in order to complete a high school honors-level class in only six weeks.

What happens if my child signs up for a course in the LLASO and is unable to finish it in the allotted six weeks?

Students who do not finish their coursework on time can, for an extra charge, apply for the Gifted LearningLinks Summer Bridges Program. For information on this program, please contact our office.

How do you contact the LLASO teacher?

Gifted LearningLinks teachers will call students and their parents by the weekend preceding the first day of class (June 25 and 26) to answer questions and set up contact times. If you have not heard from your teacher by June 26, please call the CTD office immediately. Many teachers recommend email as a good way of maintaining contact, but contact methods should be discussed with the teacher during the initial conversation. In addition, teachers' contact information appears on their Blackboard course sites; students should take the initiative to contact their teacher with questions about the course.

Can a student take more than one LLASO class at a time?
Students are limited to one LLASO course each summer because of the intensive nature of the courses and the considerable time commitment required by each one.