Policy Statements Texas Education Agency

Transcription

1 Policy Statements Texas Education Agency State Goal For Services For Gifted Students Students who participate in services designed for gifted students will demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communication as evidenced by the development of innovative products and performances that are advanced in relation to students of similar age, experience, or environment and reflect individuality and creativity. High school graduates who have participated in services for gifted students will have produced products and performances of professional quality as part of their program services. Definition of Gifted and Talented A Gifted and Talented student is a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkable high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who: exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area; possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or excels in a specific academic field. Student Assessment Policy (89.1) School districts shall develop written policies on student identification that are approved by the local board of trustees and disseminated to parents. The policies must: 1. Include provisions for ongoing screening and selection of students who show potential for performing at remarkable high levels of accomplishment in the areas defined in the Texas Education Code, Include assessment measures collected from multiple sources according to each area defined in the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students. 3. Include data and procedures designed to ensure that students from all populations in the district have access to assessment and, if identified, services for the gifted/talented program. 4. Provide for final selection of students to be made by a committee of at least three local district educators who have received training in the nature and needs of gifted students. 5. Include provisions regarding furloughs, reassessment, exiting of students from program services, transfer students, and appeals of district decisions regarding program placement.

2 Professional Development and Certification Texas Education Agency Chapter 89. Adaptation for Special Populations Schools shall ensure that: (1) Teachers who provide instruction and services that are part of the program for gifted and talented students have a minimum of 30 clock hours of staff development that includes: nature and needs of gifted/talented students, assessing student needs, and curriculum instruction of gifted students. (2) Teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the program for gifted students receive a minimum of six hours annually of professional development in gifted education. (3) Administrators and counselors who have authority for program decisions have a minimum of six hours of professional development that includes nature and needs of gifted and talented students and program options. TAGT The following competencies were developed by a Texas panel of professionals and advocates in the field of gifted education, including teachers, administrators, state and regional consultants, university faculty, and parents. 1.0 Nature and Needs of G/T Learners (6 clock hours) 2.0 Identification and Assessment (6 clock hours) 3.0 Social and Emotional Needs (6 clock hours) 4.0 Creativity and Instructional Strategies (6 clock hours) 5.0 Differentiated Curriculum (6 clock hours)

3 Student Identification The identification of students for the participation in the gifted and talented program is conducted by a committee of educators who have been trained in the area of nature, needs and characteristics of gifted students. The student identification process includes the nomination, screening, and placement of students. Provisions for student transfers, furloughs, reassessments, exiting and appeals will be addressed in the identification process. All assessment, identification, and placement procedures will be established according to guidelines mandated by the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted and Talented Students. Campus Screening Committee Each campus will establish a screening committee for the purpose of screening, identifying and placing students in the gifted and talented program. The committee will consist of the following: An administrator Elementary - one teacher certified to teach gifted and talented students per grade level with equitable representation between monolingual and bilingual populations. Secondary - a minimum of 3 teachers certified to teach gifted and talented students to include 1 ESL endorsed teacher. A coordinator will be assigned from the committee who will be: Liaison between the campus and the district coordinator for the gifted and talented instructional program Coordinating the nomination, assessment and identification process Responsible for maintaining and submitting campus documentation District G/T Committee The purpose of the district committee for gifted and talented students will be to align student identification/assessment, program design, curriculum and instruction, professional development, and family -community involvement within the San Elizario Independent School District.The District Committee will consist of the coordinators from each of the campuses, the district coordinator for gifted and talented education, and a community member. Eligibility Any student, grades K-12, enrolled in the San Elizario Independent School District is eligible for screening and placement in the Gifted and Talented Program if the eligibility criteria are met. Students, parents, teachers and other interested parties may nominate a student.

4 Student Nominations Annual distribution of program announcements at the campus level to students, parents, teachers and other interested parties. Nomination procedures and forms for assessment of gifted and talented students will be communicated to families in a language and form that they understand or a translator will be provided. The G/T district and/or campus coordinator will provide orientation sessions for faculty as well as the community prior to the nomination period regarding the identification process and an overview of services. The nominating individual will obtain a nomination packet from the campus coordinator. The nomination process will be complete when the campus coordinator receives the following: Nomination form Permission to test form Parent inventory Teacher inventory Student product Student Assessment Students in 1 st - 12 th grades are screened using the following criteria, which consist of both qualitative as well as quantitative measures. Bilingual students will be tested in their dominant language. Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test Stanford 10 / Aprenda 3 Torrance Test of Creative Thinking Academic Performance Indicators Student Product Gifted and Talented Evaluation Scale (GATES) Parent Information / Inventory Nonverbal reasoning abilities Test of concrete abilities Test of creative abilities GPA / TAKS Demonstration of student strength. Teacher Inventory Parent Inventory Student Assessment - Kindergarten Students in Kindergarten are screened using the following criteria, which consist of both qualitative as well as quantitative measures. Bilingual students will be tested in their dominant language. Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test Stanford 9/10 / Aprenda 3 Writing Activity Creativity Activity Gifted and Talented Evaluation Scale (GATES) Parent Information / Inventory Student Portfolio

5 On-Going Screening of Students Students will be provided the opportunity to be screened, qualified, and enrolled in the gifted program according to district identification time lines. However, the nomination process is ongoing, and screening of students occurs at any time the need arises. Student Qualification and Placement It is the responsibility of the campus screening committee to review and evaluate the screening data for each of the students nominated. Students who meet the required district criteria will be identified and placed into the gifted and talented program. Criteria requirements are met when student's scores fall within the ranges set on the qualifying matrix or the screening committee evaluates the data and decides the student demonstrates potential to excel beyond age level peers in one or more of the four core academic areas. Parents and teachers shall be notified in writing of the assessment results and the Screening Committee s recommendation. They will be given the opportunity to schedule a conference to discuss assessment data. Students who do not meet one or more of the qualifying criteria may: Resubmit data for one or more of the subjective criteria once during the current school year. Retake the objective test after one school year. Initiate the appeal process Appeal Process for Non-Qualified Students Students, parents, guardians, teachers/administrators, or other interested parties submit appeals of non-qualified students. The screening committee may also review the data automatically and use its professional judgment to determine which of these students will benefit from the program. Continuation and Exiting of Qualified Students Performance of students participating in the G/T program will be reviewed annually with parents. Qualified students are eligible to continue in the gifted program from one year to another unless there is a written request for student exit from the program or the screening committee determines that the program placement is no longer appropriate. Exiting of students from gifted/talented program services is based on multiple criteria including student performance in the program and is finalized by committee decision after consultation with parents and teachers regarding the most appropriate educational placement. Parents must be notified in writing of the meeting to review the student s placement. Parents are notified in writing when the decision of the campus screening committee is to exit the student from the gifted program. Appeals regarding the exiting of a student from the gifted program are filed with the campus screening committee within 10 days of notification of the decision to exit. Adult students, parent/guardians, teachers, or administrators may submit exit forms. Requests for student exit from the gifted program may be based on educational, psychological, and / or personal reasons. Adult students, parents/guardians, teachers or administrators and other interested parties may file appeals regarding exit from the gifted program. The campus screening committee receives appeals that have been filed, reviews the documentation, and makes decisions about continued placement.

6 Furlough Students who are unable to maintain satisfactory performance within the structure of the gifted program may be placed on furlough by the campus screening committee. A furlough may also be granted at the request of the student and/or parent. Written notification of the decision must be provided to the parents. A student may be furloughed for a period of time deemed appropriate by the campus screening committee. Reentry into the gifted program will follow established district procedures. Re-entry into the Gifted Program Qualified students choosing not to participate or exiting during the school year may file a written request with the campus screening committee to re-enter the program the following school year. The screening committee will review the request and make a final decision. Reassessment Students identified and placed in the gifted and talented program may be reassessed no more than once in elementary grades, once in middle school, and once in high school. Reassessment may occur if; student files do not have adequate documentation of the assessment data, and/or performance in the gifted program needs to be reevaluated. Identification of Students transferring Into the District Students new to the district are eligible for immediate placement based on verification of previous qualification in a gifted program. The campus screening committee reviews documentation from the transferring district and determines placement within six weeks of enrollment in the district. The campus screening committee may request that a student complete all, or a portion of the district s screening procedures if the documentation does not satisfy district qualifying standards. *Registrars will request documentation from the school last attended. *Registrars will notify the appropriate Instructional Planning and Instruction and campus coordinator. Students transferring within the district are eligible for immediate placement. Transfer of Qualified Students Out of District The campus screening committee prepares documentation for students who transfer out of the district verifying the student s qualification and participation in the gifted program. Documentation includes the student s assessment data. Non-Qualified Probationary Students The campus screening committee may allow students who do not fully qualify to participate in all gifted program activities on a probationary basis. It is the responsibility of the campus screening committee to accept those students who show potential for advanced level performance and would benefit from participation in the gifted program. Parents must be notified in writing of the probationary status and must sign the acceptance form agreeing to the conditions of the student s placement. The campus screening committee must review annually the records of probationary students for continued participation.