Elmhurst CUSD 205

Who We Are

The REACH Parent Group (RPG) is a committee organized and funded by the District 205 PTA Council. We are a parent group dedicated to supporting gifted and talented programs in District 205 and to encouraging higher level educational opportunities for ALL D205 students. Our areas of focus include:

Providing parent and student resources for gifted and advanced learners
Organizing advocacy at local and national levels
Sponsoring and/or promoting academic-based extra-curricular activities that are accessible to all students
Collaborating with REACH teachers to provide additional resources and student opportunities.

Upcoming REACH Parent Group Meetings

February 20, 2025, 7:00 pm, District 205 Building-Rm. 216-217 & Zoom Listen-In option.

Do you have a bright learner who struggles to show what they know? Or a child who can discuss complex ideas but struggles with simple tasks? These students may be twice-exceptional, or 2e. 2e students simultaneously have exceptional strengths (often labeled as gifted or talented) as well as great challenges (often labeled as learning disabilities or other neurodivergence). Just because a child is gifted does not mean he/she does not have other types of neurodivergence, like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and more. Conversely, children with these diagnoses can be cognitively gifted. Join our presentation with Shaunne McKinley, Gifted Specialist and SENG Board Member, who will share her knowledge with parents and educators on understanding and supporting Gifted and 2e students, cultivating their strengths and supporting their needs. We will also discuss SENG (Social Emotional Needs of the Gifted) and take-aways from the fall Illinois Association for Gifted Children. All D205 parents are welcome (You do not need to have a student in the REACH program to attend and become involved in the RPG.) See
our Meeting Information page for Meeting Agenda and Zoom link.

April 25, 2025, 7:00 pm, location TBD

Elementary & Middle School Reach Teachers

May 15, 2025, 12:00 pm, location TBD:

Leadership Board & School Rep Meeting : Feedback on spring math enrichment, planning for next school year.

See our Meeting Information page for more detailed information on upcoming meetings.

Last REACH Parent Group Meeting

December 4, 2024, 7:00pm, Edison Elementary School-Gym

Academic Transitions: Middle School-to-High School:
Freshmen/Sophomore student panel; Adam Roubitchek-Ed.D. -
Assistant Principal for Instruction - York High School; and Executive Function Expert Jen Zacharias from Beyond the Classroom. See
our Meeting Information page for Minutes and presentation slides.

REACH Identification Process & Appeals

Placement and Appeals questions? Please see the D205 REACH website for more information.

REACH Parent Group Communications

Please see the REACH Parent Group Directory to contact your school's REACH teacher/s, REACH Parent Group Leadership Board, and/or your REACH Parent Group school representative. We are here to help you.
Subscribe to the REACH Parent Group Communication List - this is the best way to keep up with what is going on. (To unsubscribe, please go into your Parent Square app, click on GROUPS and you can unselect REACH Parent Group.)
Follow our REACH Parent Group social media groups. Effective 12/20/24, the administrators of our RPG FB Pages merged the Middle School page into the Elementary page so that the groups are together in one group "REACH Parent Group-Elmhurst" (for both elementary and middle school parents). :
- REACH Parent Group Elmhurst - Facebook Page
- (More details to follow on RPG Instagram.)

Advocacy

GET INVOLVED!
Advocacy is an important part of ensuring that your child is provided the best learning environment based on their learning abilities. The National Association for Gifted Children is an excellent advocacy resource for working with your teachers, school, administration, and/or congressman.

The federal government plays a small role in gifted education policies and funding. Decisions are made at the state level, which then requires localities to follow the state’s guidelines on identification and programming, or allows localities to make independent decisions about gifted education. Each state, and, in some states, each district or school will have differing policies and practices related to advanced learners - The Illinois Association for Gifted Children has information on advocacy at the state level.