Gifted Education in Middle School 7 th and 8 th Grade Troup County Schools

1. Gifted Education in Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Troup County Schools

2. Agenda • Welcome • Purpose • Middle school gifted models • TCSS middle school rubric • FAQ • Questions and Answers

3. Purpose: • To explain State approved models for providing gifted services to middle school students • To explain how gifted students are assigned to classes

4. State Requirements • Identified gifted students must receive at least 1 segment per day (1 class) of gifted service or the yearly equivalent (In TCSS, gifted students may receive more than 1 class. The number of classes in which a student is placed is determined by a rubric score.). • Schools/Systems must provide services through a State-approved service model. In Troup County the most often used models are: Advanced Content, cluster, & resource.

5. TCSS Goals • To provide equitable services to gifted students in all middle schools • To assign students to gifted level classes in a consistent manner throughout TCSS • To meet the standards outlined by the Georgia Department of Education in collaboration with the Georgia Association for Gifted Children

6. Advanced Content Model • Maximum class size of 21 (with waiver 25) at the secondary • Top 21 (25) students, whether identified gifted or not, according to rubric score • Taught by gifted-endorsed teacher

7. Cluster Model • Class Size of 28 (with waiver 32) • No more than ½ the class can be gifted • Remainder of the class comprised of heterogeneous group randomly assigned by computer • Taught by gifted-certified teacher • Contracts should be written for each gifted student.

8. Contracts Contracts should indicate: • a. Separate lesson plans which show reason(s) why the particular student(s) needs an advanced curriculum in the particular content area • b. A description of the course curriculum which is based on Georgia standards that shows how the content, pacing, teaching strategies, and assessment are differentiated to meet the advanced needs of the students • c. Dates and amount of time (in segments) the student(s) will be engaged in the higher-level activities; and • d. Means by which the gifted student or student’s learning will be evaluated (e.g., formative and summative assessments)

9. Gifted Models in TCSS • Advanced Content Classes (AC): At least 12%, but no more than 15%, of each grade level in Math and ELA • AC classes comprised of students, gifted or high achieving, with highest rubric score in that subject

10. AC Example • Grade level with 500 students • 12% of 500= 60 • AC class maximum = 21 to 25 students • 3 AC classes in math and 3 AC classes in ELA • AC seats given to 63 to 75 students with highest score on subject rubric

11. Cluster Model • Number of cluster classes determined by number of gifted students and number of gifted-certified teachers ( school autonomy) • No more than 50% of class should be gifted students. • Students assigned by rubric score in offered subject • Remaining students are assigned randomly by the computer

12. 7th and 8th Grade Rubric- Math

13. 7th and 8th Grade Rubric-ELA

14. 7th and 8th Grade Rubric- Science

15. 7th and 8th Grade Rubric- Social Studies

16. Advanced Content Model in Math, ELA, Science and Social Studies • Advanced Content Class: Offer Advanced Content (AC) classes in math, ELA, science and social studies depending on student’s strength(s) for the top 12 % of all students based on district rubric. Schools may consider the next tiered students, up to 15% if the class size is lower than the state required class size requirements for AC class. For example, if you have 500 7th or 8th graders in your school, the top 12% or 60 students can be placed in an AC class. Let us say, the class size is 21. Then you can create 3 AC classes and will have a total of 63 students. You will have the flexibility to place 3 more students in addition to the first 60. You will pick the next 3 students on the rubric after the initial 60.

17. Cluster Model in Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies • Math class for Gifted Students who are not Eligible for AC classes: Cluster Model • Cluster classes can be offered in math, ELA, science, and social studies for gifted students who are not eligible for AC classes based explicitly on the scores on the district rubric. No more than 50% of the class should be gifted students. The remaining students should be a heterogeneous group comprised of mixed ability students assigned randomly by the computer. Cluster classes should meet the state’s required maximum class size rule. For example, if you have 28 students in a class, no more than 14 students can be gifted. The general education section of the class should be randomly placed by computer.

18. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the state requirement for gifted classes? The state requires that all gifted students must receive a minimum of one segment (1 class) of gifted service per day or the yearly equivalent. 2. What type of scheduling accommodations will be provided for gifted students? Every effort shall be made to assign students to as many gifted service model class as appropriate by scoring the rubric. However, gifted students may not be eligible to receive services through a gifted service model class in all subject areas. 3. What do we do when an out-of-state student transfers to Georgia? Use the CRCT type achievement test that is administered in that state. For example, Alabama students take the ARM test in reading and math. If the student has no criterion based test score, please contact the director of secondary curriculum or the Exceptional Education department.

19. Frequently Asked Questions 4. What do we do for rubric tie breakers? • For tie breakers we will do the following: • 1st tie breaker: Compare actual scores on the current year’s CRCT in the area that is being considered. • 2nd tie breaker: Compare actual scores on the last year’s CRCT in the area that is being considered • 3rd tie breaker: Compare actual scores on the previous year’s CRCT in the area that is being considered • Example: First tie breaker for a rising 7th/8th grader in 2014, look at the actual spring 2014 CRCT score. If the rubric score continues to be tied, compare scores from 2013 and if it still continues to be tied compare scores from 2012 etc. 5. What do we do when an out-of-state gifted student transfers to Georgia? Does the student automatically receive gifted services? • No; gifted services are not reciprocal. Eligibility must be established in Georgia before receiving gifted services in Georgia.

20. Frequently Asked Questions 6. What are the state requirements for teachers who serve gifted students through a cluster model? • Teachers should document curriculum modifications made for gifted students: (a) separate lesson plans (b) individual student contracts. 7. How do you rank students using the rubric? • Score the rubric for all students. Rank them by order- 1, 2, 3 etc. 8. How do you place students using the rubric? • Place students according to the rank they obtained on the rubric. Students cannot receive a separate rank based on their race, gender, or socio-economic status.

21. Questions Please direct any questions to: Karen R. Cagle (706) 812-7900 caglekr@troup.org Lakshmi Sankar (706) 812-7939 sankarl@troup.org Shari Dillon (706) 812-7939 dillonsc@troup.org