The Lincoln Board of Education recognizes that the student population includes students with exceptional academic abilities. These students in the Gifted Program have a need for educational services that are consistent with their ability levels and learning characteristics such as thinking abstractly, having the ability to study a topic in depth, and learning rapidly. These students shall be provided appropriately challenging curricula and instruction that are congruent with their learning abilities and styles and that shall be provided in classes composed of these students, taught by teachers trained to recognize and meet the needs of these students. Requests for grouping variances must be submitted to the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department and may be approved when factors make homogeneous grouping unfeasible. Each school shall prepare a plan for delivery of services to gifted students, and the plan shall be approved by the Gifted Steering Committee.