On Tuesday, March 17, Superintendent Robert Beers and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Karen Jones presented an update to the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District community regarding the Gifted and Talented program structure for the 2026–2027 school year and beyond.
The presentation during the Board of Education meeting outlined the district's transition away from the Academically Independent (AI) program, a self-contained model that bused fewer than 70 students to Hamilton Primary School for Grades 2 through 4, only to reunite them with their peers upon returning to the intermediate schools.
After careful review, district leadership determined that the AI program offered no distinct academic outcome that could not be achieved through the district's existing and expanding schoolwide enrichment model, and the program will be discontinued effective in September 2026.
Under the new model, all K–5 students will receive daily enrichment, along with expanded instruction in science and social studies. Students identified for Gifted and Talented services will receive additional robust programming within their neighborhood schools, including daily cluster grouping and weekly small-group investigations.
The full sequence of accelerated 6E coursework will continue at the middle school level and beyond.
By redirecting more than $512,000 in annual transportation and personnel costs previously dedicated to the AI program (7,000 per pupil), the district will move away from a two-tiered system and toward a model that effectively serves every student.
The full presentation can be accessed here.