Gifted and Talented Program Plan

Gifted and Talented Program Plan College Station Independent School District Success each life each day each hour

COLLEGE STATION INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT PLAN FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM I. NAME OF PROGRAM The program which provides services to identified students of the district shall be known as the Gifted/Talented (G/T) Program. Gifted and talented student means 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. EHBB (LEGAL) II. CONTINUUM OF SERVICES It is the goal of the district to provide planned, purposeful educational opportunities that allow optimal academic, creative, and personal growth for those who have traditionally been identified as gifted and talented. To meet this goal, a continuum of services is offered to students beginning in the elementary grades. Programming is provided in the following sequence of services: Kindergarten Grade 4 Formal identification of students Kindergarten-to begin services by March 1 Pull-out program for identified students, grades 1-4 While responsible for the learning, students are not required to make up class work missed while out of the classroom for GT pullout. Identified students will be placed in classrooms in clusters of not fewer than 5 students* *Exceptions include cases where there are fewer than 5 identified students in a grade level at the campus, and for students in the dual language program (as there may be fewer than 5 identified students in a dual language class at a specific grade level on the campus). CSISD 8/26/2016 Page 1

Grades 5 and 6 Pull-out Program for Identified Students While responsible for the learning, students are not required to make up class work missed while out of the classroom for GT pullout. Identified students will be clustered within teams to facilitate the opportunity for GT students to work with their academic peers Grades 7 and 8 Triple E Classes (Extended Educational Experiences) Grades 9-12 Pre-Advanced Placement Classes Advanced Placement Classes College Courses (off campus) In addition, students identified as G/T in grades K-6 have opportunities to participate in school wide enrichment activities. School wide Enrichment G/T Model III. NOMINATION/REFERRAL Students may be nominated for the gifted and talented program at any time by teachers, counselors, parents or other interested persons. Students may be nominated using the district nomination form for the program by: Teachers CSISD 8/26/2016 Page 2

Counselors Administrators Parents Self (secondary) Peer Other members of the community Nominations will be accepted at anytime during the year. Screening for the Gifted/Talented Program will occur during the second semester. A parent, teacher, counselor, administrator, other members of the community, or the student (at the secondary level) may initiate the referral for screening by completing the Nomination Form available from the Enrichment Specialist or front office (grades K-6) or counselor s office (grades 7-12). Nominations should be made in writing to the Enrichment Specialist (grades K-6) or counselor (grades 7-12). IV. SCREENING AND IDENTIFICATION PROCESS The District shall provide assessment opportunities to complete the screening and identification process for nominated/referred students at least once per school year. A student may be tested no more than one time per school year. CSISD s regular testing period falls in the second semester of each school year. A one-time fall testing opportunity may be available for students in grades 1 and above who have never had the opportunity to test for GT services. A student who tests in the fall is not eligible to re-test until the spring of the next school year. V. PARENTAL CONSENT The District shall obtain written parental consent before any special testing or individual assessment is conducted as part of the screening and identification process. All student information collected during the screening and identification process shall be an educational record, subject to the protections set out in policies at FL. No screening or testing will be done until the parent completes and signs the Permission to Test form, authorizing the district to proceed with the screening and testing. CSISD 8/26/2016 Page 3

VI. IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA The Board-approved program for the gifted and talented has established criteria to identify gifted and talented students. The criteria are specific to the state definition of gifted and talented and ensure the fair assessment of students with special needs, such as culturally different, the economically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities. Students will be placed in the Gifted/Talented Program if: A professional committee decision is made and documented in the comment section of the profile determining the child s educational need for service in the program. All three Admission, Review, Exit (A.R.E.) Committee members signatures should be included on the profile. The District Committee grants an appeal based on additional information documented in the appeal letter, which is a written request in letter form (see APPEALS section). Official decisions for placement can only be made by either the Campus or District A.R.E. Committee. VII. ASSESSMENTS Data collected through both objective and subjective assessments shall be measured against the criteria approved by the Board to determine individual eligibility for the program. Assessment tools may include, but are not limited to, the following: achievement tests, intelligence tests, creativity tests, behavioral checklists completed by teachers and parents, student/parent conferences, and available student work products. Data will be collected from objective and subjective sources. Assessment data may include but are not limited to: Achievement tests Abilities tests Behavioral checklists completed by teachers and parents Teacher nominations based on classroom observations No student will be tested more than once during a school year. College Station ISD does not accept scores obtained through private testing. CSISD 8/26/2016 Page 4

VIII. SELECTION A selection committee shall evaluate each nominated/referred student according to the established criteria and shall identify those students for whom placement in the gifted and talented program is the most appropriate educational setting. The committee shall be composed of at least three professional educators who have received training in the nature and needs of gifted students, as required by law, and shall be established at each campus. The screening process will be the same on all campuses. The selection committee shall be known as the Admission, Review, Exit (A.R.E.) Committee. The campus A.R.E. Committee, composed of a counselor, teacher/enrichment Specialist, and an administrator, preferably the principal, will determine placement. All members of the committee must have 6 required hours training in the Nature and Needs of gifted students. Students will be placed in the G/T program if: The campus A.R.E. Committee makes the decision for placement on initial profile data and may add information in the comment section of the profile documenting the student s need for service in the program. All three campus A.R.E. Committee members signatures will be included on the profile. The District A.R.E. Committee grants an appeal based on additional information and/or extenuating circumstances documented in the appeal letter. The District A.R.E. Committee will determine placement eligibility based on data recorded on the profile and additional information and/or extenuating circumstances documented in the appeal letter, as well as additional information gathered upon request by the District A.R.E. Committee (see APPEALS). Official decisions for placement can only be made either by the Campus or District Admission, Review, Exit (A.R.E.) Committee. The committee will review data collected by the Enrichment Specialist (grades K-6) or counselor (grades 7-12) on each student nominated for the program. During the screening phase, additional data may be necessary. IX. NOTIFICATION CSISD 8/26/2016 Page 5

The District shall provide written notification to parents of students who qualify for service through the District s gifted and talented program. Participation in any program or services provided for gifted students shall be voluntary, and the District shall obtain written permission from the parents before placing a student in a gifted program. X. NO REASSESSMENT The District shall not perform routine reassessments. XI. TRANSFER STUDENTS When a student identified as gifted by a previous school district enrolls in the District, the selection committee shall review the student s records to determine if placement in the District s program for gifted and talented students is appropriate. The committee shall make its determination within 30 calendar days of the student s enrollment in the District and shall base the decision on the transferred records, observation reports of District teachers who instruct the student, and student and parent conferences. Committee options may include: If criteria are similar: o Placement o Probationary placement If criteria are similar, but scores are low o Non-placement If criteria are dissimilar: o Probationary placement with the option to test in the spring o Non-placement with the option to test within 30 days of enrollment Students are only allowed to test once in a 12- month period. After initial testing, students will only be allowed to test during the regular testing period (spring). Regarding transfer students and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children, the District shall initially honor placement of the student in educational programs based on current educational assessments conducted at the sending district or participation/placement in like programs in the sending state. Such programs include, but are not limited to: CSISD 8/26/2016 Page 6

Gifted and talented programs; and English as a second language (ESL). This does not preclude the District from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure appropriate placement of the student. XII. INTRADISTRICT A student who transfers from one campus in the District to the same grade level at another District campus shall continue to receive services in the District s gifted and talented program. When notified of an intradistrict transfer, the specialist/counselor at the sending school will take the appropriate actions to get the student s folder to the receiving school s specialist/counselor. XIII. FURLOUGHS The District may place on a furlough any student who is unable to maintain satisfactory performance or whose educational needs are not being met within the structure of the gifted and talented program. A furlough may be initiated by the District, the parent, or the student. In accordance with administrative regulations, a furlough may be granted for specified reasons and for a specific period of time. At the end of the furlough, the student may reenter the gifted program, be placed on another furlough, or be exited from the program. A student may elect not to participate in the G/T specific content area courses or pull-out program classes for a given period of time without exiting the program. Parent(s)/guardian(s) will be provided the furlough form for their signatures. Forms are available from the campus Enrichment Specialist (grades K-6) or counselor (grades 7-12). XIV. EXIT PROVISIONS The District shall monitor student performance in the program. If at any time the selection committee determines it is in the best interest of the student and his or her educational needs, the committee may exit a student from the program. If a student or parent requests removal from the program, the selection committee shall meet with the parent and student before honoring the request. The campus A.R.E. committee will make final decisions regarding exiting students from the program. Valid reasons for exit are: CSISD 8/26/2016 Page 7

Parent request for withdrawal Student request for withdrawal with parental permission Enrichment Specialist s recommendation based on observation of student s behavior, performance, and products. Counselor s recommendation based on observation and interviews. Teacher s recommendation based on observation and interviews. Secondary students choosing not to participate in advanced classes following the furlough period may be exited. A student may be exited from a G/T specific content area course or pullout program based on a parent/guardian request. A G/T Temporary Exit (furlough) letter or Formal Exit letter should be completed and returned by the parent and placed in the G/T folder. A student may be exited from a G/T specific content area course or pullout program based upon consensus of the classroom teacher(s) and A.R.E. Committee. If a parent chooses to appeal the decision, then the procedure outlined in the APPEALS section should be followed. XV. APPEALS A parent or student may appeal any final decision of the selection committee regarding selection for or exit from the gifted program. Appeals shall be made first to the selection committee. Any subsequent appeals shall be made in accordance with FNG(LOCAL) beginning at Level Two. A parent/guardian may appeal selection or exit decisions relating to their child. Every appeal should be initiated at the campus level and the following guidelines should be followed: GENERAL PROVISIONS Students or parents shall be entitled to informal conferences with administrators to resolve their complaints. If such attempts are unsuccessful, the process outlined below shall be followed. If a complaint involves a problem with a teacher, the student or parent in most circumstances shall be expected to discuss the matter with the teacher before requesting a conference with the principal at Level One. The student may be represented by an adult at any level of the complaint. CSISD 8/26/2016 Page 8

For purposes of this policy, days shall mean calendar days. Announcement of a decision in the student s or parent s presence shall constitute communication of the decision. LEVEL ONE A student or parent who has a complaint shall request a conference with the campus A.R.E. Committee, including the principal, within ten days of the time the student or parent knew, or should have known, of the event or series of events causing the complaint. The A.R.E. Committee, including the principal, shall schedule and hold a conference with the student or parent within seven days of the request. LEVEL TWO If the outcome of the conference with the campus A.R.E. Committee, including the principal, is not to the student s or parent s satisfaction, the student or parent may request, within ten days, a conference with the District A.R.E. Committee, who shall schedule and hold a conference. Prior to or at the time of the conference, the student or parent shall submit a written complaint that includes a statement of the complaint, any evidence in its support, the solution sought, the student s or parent s signature, and the date of the conference with the campus A.R.E. Committee, including the principal. LEVEL THREE If the outcome of the conference with the District A.R.E. Committee is not to the student s or parent s satisfaction, the student or parent may submit to the Superintendent a written request to place the matter on the agenda of a future Board meeting. The Superintendent shall inform the student or parent of the date, time, and place of the meeting. The presiding officer shall establish a reasonable time limit for complaint presentations. The District shall make an audio recording of the Level Three proceeding before the Board. The Board shall hear the complaint and take whatever action it deems appropriate. The lack of official action by the Board shall uphold the administrative decision at Level Two. XVI. PROGRAM EVALUATION The District shall annually evaluate the effectiveness of the District s gifted program, and the results of the evaluation shall be used to modify and update the District and campus improvement plans. The District shall include parents in the evaluation process and shall CSISD 8/26/2016 Page 9

share the information with the Board members, administrators, teachers, counselors, students in the gifted program, and the community. The evaluation process shall ensure that those involved in the planning and implementation of the Gifted/Talented Program are also involved in its evaluation. XVII. COMMUNITY AWARENESS The District shall ensure that information about the District s gifted and talented Program is available to parents and community members and that they have an opportunity to develop an understanding of and support for the program. XVIII. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The District shall ensure that: Before assignment to the program for gifted students, teachers who provide instruction and services that are part of the program have a minimum of 30 hours of staff development that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students, assessment of student needs, and curriculum and instruction for gifted students. Teachers without the required training who provide instruction and services that are part the gifted/talented program complete the 30-hour training requirement within one semester. Teachers who provide instruction and services that are part of a program for gifted students receive a minimum of six hours annually of professional development in gifted education. Administrators and counselors who have the authority for program decisions have a minimum of six hours of professional development that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students and program options. The Texas Education Agency requires professional development for administrators, counselors, and teachers who are assigned to teach students who have been identified as G/T. These teachers are required to complete Level 1 training by the end of their first semester and Level 2 annually. In CSISD, this includes all kindergarten teachers, as well. CSISD 8/26/2016 Page 10

In addition College Station ISD requires all other 1-12 teachers to complete thirty hours of Level 1 training before beginning their second year of service with CSISD, and receive a 6-hour, Level 2 update annually. Three components of training must be completed: LEVEL I According to the Texas state plan, Teachers instructing students identified as gifted must have 30 hours of Level 1 training before the school year begins. This deadline may be extended through the first semester. The professional development must include: Nature and Needs of G/T students Assessing Student Needs Curriculum and Instruction for Gifted Students LEVEL II Teachers who have completed 30 hours of level I GT training must complete 6 hours annually of Level II professional development. Pre-approval of the training session must be given by the Program Director of Gifted and Talented Education. TRAINING FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND COUNSELORS Each administrator and counselor who has decision-making authority for the G/T program must have a minimum of 6 hours. This required one-time training must include Nature and Needs of G/T Students and Program Options. CSISD 8/26/2016 Page 11