Stanford caters to local gifted youth Stanford caters to local gifted youth (April 23, 2004)

Online courses offer perfect challenge for some students

By Julie O'Shea

For parents looking for new ways to challenge their child's thirst for math, science and language arts, a solution is literally just a few miles away.

At a time when local school districts are evaluating their need for more alternative learning programs, Stanford University's Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY), continues to attract children from around the world with its intensive online courses.

From "college-seminar" writing courses to math lessons, students usually meet in a virtual classroom, where a child in Mountain View is able to interact and "talk" to a child from, say, India or Japan who is studying the same subject material.

"These kids learned well -- they took to the technology," said Ray Ravaglia, one of the program's founders and deputy directors. "We try and pick courses that students are excited about, but aren't normally found in high school."

EPYG leaders will give an overview of the program during a special presentation April 28 in Stanford's Cordura Hall. The meeting will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and instructors will discuss such topics as distance learning, after-school and summer-school program offerings, and the college admission process.

Since its inception in 1992, more than 40,000 children have enrolled in EPGY, which provides an educational outlet to gifted youth who don't feel academically challenged in mainstream classrooms. Children from 6 to 18 years of age can participate. Currently, the program has 4,000 students enrolled in courses, but only about 30 are from the Mountain View and Los Altos area.

"I found it online. I think it's great," said Jill Curcio, a Los Altos resident whose seven-year-old is enrolled in the math program.

Curcio's daughter, Emily, has been involved in EPGY since she was in kindergarten.

"It just fulfills her desire for more," Curcio said. Or, as Emily puts it: "I just love math, Mom."

Ravaglia emphasized that children who are enrolled in EPGY courses have to be extremely self-motivated, considering they have to make time to fit in these extra class assignments and readings around their regular school work. But, Ravaglia noted, most students in the program thrive from these challenges and don't see the extra work as a burden.

"When we discovered the Stanford program, it was a miracle," said Vicki Schultz, a Mountain View resident with two daughters in EPGY "Personally, my husband and I are very, very grateful to EPGY."

Schultz said her girls spend about two to three hours a week on the extra courses, which have helped them excel in their mainstream classroom settings. Her oldest, 15-year-old Mila, plans to enroll in the program's summer physics, computer and music theory classes.

"Stanford is really behind these courses," Ravaglia said, adding that students can live on campus during the summer and receive university credit for some of the classes.

Prices for the summer session range from $285 to $3,000, which includes room and board. Regular three-month enrollment starts at $450. For more information, go to www-epgy.stanford.edu.

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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