GT Program Information for Parents

1. GT Program Information for Parents

2. Agenda • What is Gifted and Talented? • Characteristics of the Gifted Child • The NEISD Gifted and Talented Program • Referral Process • Assessment/Qualification • Testing Windows • Questions

3. What is Gifted and Talented? As defined by the Texas Education Agency: A gifted/talented student is a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably 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. (Texas Education Code §29.121) * School districts across the state have the flexibility to service Gifted and Talented students based on resources and needs.

4. Poses unforseen questions Knows without working hard Guesses and infers well May not be motivated by grades Is beyond the group (2+ years) High Achiever Gifted Student Remembers the answers Works hard to achieve Memorizes well Gets A’s Performs at the top of the group

5. NEISD Elementary GT Program The NEISD GT Program is a Pull-Out Program in English where identified students are pulled from the homeroom classroom to receive services. These services include exposing students to higher level material including, but not limited to, the following: Pre-Algebra/Algebraic Equations Socratic Method Discussions In-depth Novel Studies Logic Problems Self-Directed Learning Depth and Complexity

6. Kindergarten FALL PUSH IN PROGRAM • Elementary GT Campus Teachers will be visiting all kinder classrooms in the fall. • They will visit anywhere from 3-5 times for 20-25 minutes. • Testing will occur in January and classes will begin in March.

7. Referral Process • Staff members and parents can refer students for GT testing within the first 3 weeks of school. • Please review characteristics of gifted students before referring. Research online and see if your child has the potential for being gifted (see handout provided). Ask the campus GT teacher questions as well as your child’s previous classroom teachers if these behaviors have been observed. • Usually 5% of students qualify for Gifted Programs. • Very bright students may notqualify. Early readers, all As, and high STAAR scores are excellent, but that isn’t always indicative of a student being gifted.

8. Gifted and Talented Assessment Students who are interested in being in the GT Program will need to be referred and have a signed permission slip to test. Students are given nationally normed assessments in the following areas: • Reading and Math Achievement • Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal Ability • Spatial Reasoning • Qualitative Data Assessments are available in Spanish.

9. GT Placement Committee • A committee of at least three district personnel who have been trained in the nature and needs and identification of gifted students will determine placement of each child. • This committee could include the GT teacher, counselor, administrator, GT Instructional Specialist, GT Director, or other trained district personnel.

10. Qualification • Those who meet the criteria for GT placement must earn exceptionally high scores on multiple assessments with approximately 5% of students district-wide qualifying for GT services. • Percentile scoring compares students nationally and by age versus percent correct scoring. • Students who score in the top 5-6% show an ACADEMIC NEED for services in NEISD. • Students who score in this range are typically 2-3 years ahead of their peers and have the ability to do the level of work set by the GT teacher and Gifted and Talented Curriculum.

11. My child qualified, now what? Your child will be in the GT program through 5th grade. Students may be reassessed for the secondary program if nominated. If a student qualifies at the secondary level, the student will remain in the GT Program through high school. The NEISD Elementary Program the following services are provided: • Kindergarten-Second Grade: 2-3 hours per week • 3rd-5th Grade: 4-5 hours per week

12. Furloughs and Exiting the GT Program • Students may be furloughed for up to 1 year from the GT Program due to illness, parent request, or other issues that require an absence from the program. • GT students may be exited from the GT Program if it is no longer an appropriate academic placement. Students will have to retest if they want to enter the program again. • These are rare possibilities. The GT teacher, classroom teacher, parent, and an administrator will collaborate on what is best for the student.

13. Retesting for GT Services My child didn’t qualify, when can my he retest? • Some of the assessment data collected is valid for up to two years. • Therefore, not all students will be eligible for testing every year. GT campus teachers will review previously tested student’s data and inform parents if their child is eligible for testing. • Request for Reconsideration Forms are available via the GT teacher if parents want to contest the placement decision.

14. Testing Windows The NEISD Testing windows are the following: • August/September each school year (Grades 1-5) • January for Kindergarten Students • February for 5th graders to enter 6th grade If your child is testing at the beginning of 5th grade and does not qualify, your child will not be retested in February for Middle School unless the GT teacher determines there is an area where a child may have a possibility of qualifying. For example, high math achievement and quantitative ability scores may show that GT Math in 6th grade could be a good placement. If your child does qualify in 5th grade, the fall scores will be used for 6th grade placement and some additional testing will be administered.

15. Testing Windows Continued... • If students are coming from another NEISD campus and were in the GT program, they are automatically in the GT program at their new NEISD school. • If students are coming from another district with a GT status, please provide necessary documentation and have the other school send testing data to the campus GT teacher. The GT teacher will review the data and inform parents if the testing is parallel to NEISD and scores are at the district standard. If not, additional testing may be needed. Scores older than 2 years are considered outdated. Testing will be done within 30 days once the permission to test and service form is returned to the GT Teacher. • Military students who have a GT status with documentation from a GT program will qualify automatically due to the Interstate Compact Act on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. Please reach out to the GT teacher if this applies to you.

16. Thank you for coming! Take time to learn more about the “Gifted Child” to determine whether your child is a good candidate to consider for testing. Please let the GT teacher know as soon as possible if you would like your child to be tested. Thank you coming to learn more about the NEISD Gifted and Talented Program! Laura Newberger lnewbe@neisd.net