Gifted & Talented Program and Assessment Information
Welcome to Allen ISD Gifted and Talented!
*You may email us @: gifted@allenisd.org
What's New 2012-2013 AISD Gifted and Talented?
Email us at gifted@allenisd.org or call at 972-727-0332 for further information.
Phase II GIfted Testing Location Information: Saturday, April 27, 3013
(Registered students ONLY) Grades K-11
Curtis Middle School
1530 Rivercrest Blvd. Allen, 75002
Phase II Final Gifted testing: Students who met CogAT criteria are eligible to participate in Phase II
Gifted testing. Phase II consists of ITBS (achievement test) and Critical/Creative Exercise.
ONLY students who met CogAT criteria are eligible. If you received notification of eligibility, please register
your student below. AISD Gifted and Talented Screening/Assessment Timeline 2012-2013 Date
2012-2013 | Action | April 27 | Phase II: Final testing @ Curtis Middle School 9:00 A.M. (referral ONLY) | April 29 | Individual Review Registration DUE K-11 | May 15 | Parent Notification of GT Placements | May 18 | Individual Review Grades K-11 @ Olson Elem 9:00 AM (registered students only) | June 5 | Parent Notification Final GT placements/IR |
*For additional information, please contact us @ gifted@allenisd.org or 972-727-0332
Resources:
AISD Appeal Process FormAISD Furlough Request FormAISD Exit Request Form
AISD Gifted and Talented Time line and Programs
AISD Identification and Assessment Flow Chart
AISD Gifted and Talented Programs and Procedures
Texas Performance Standards Project Brochure
“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.
Allen ISD mission is to provide an enriched, rigorous, academic curriculum for identified gifted students.
Identification Process
Referral and Nomination
Students are referred/nominated for gifted program based on prescreen data, or referred due to
new student status. District wide screening for K is administered in December/January.
District wide aptitude screening is offered in February/March for grades 4-11. Referral/Nomination
packets will be available beginning February. Students who meet district prescreen aptitude are mailed
packets. Kindergarten students are nominated based on prescreen data during the month of January.
All students who are nominated are screened for eligibility. Written parental consent is obtained before
any special testing or individual assessment is conducted as part of the identification process.
Screening & Assessment
District-wide screening will be conducted annually. Major assessments will be conducted in August,
October, January, March, April and May.The August assessment will focus on screening new AISD students only. New students who did not
participate in summer screening will be screened at end of first six weeks for gifted
consideration if they were previously identified for a gifted program in former district. The December/January assessment will focus on Kindergarten. Services for identified Kindergarten students
begin March 1st of the same school year. The March assessment, Phase I will offer aptitude screening for students considering gifted (grades 2, 4, 6 and 7-11). The April assessment, Phase II completes final gifted screening.
The May assessment will focus on screening for any student who previously participated in CogAT
and request Individual Review, an additional aptitude opportunity. Students who are identified during
spring assessments will begin services in August of the next school year.
New Students
During August, students who are new to AISD and have previously been identified for a gifted program
in another district/state will be screened for placement in the AISD Gifted and Talented program. New
students who have not previously been in a gifted program and who are enrolled in the AISD before
the start of school will also be screened during the August screening/assessment. Students not previously
in a gifted program or who attended a school where there was not a gifted and talented program
available and enroll in the AISD after the start of school will be screened during the Spring assessment.
Selection and Placement
The District Selection Committeewhich includes the district Gifted and Talented Coordinator,
Campus gifted facilitators, Campus regular education teachers, administrators, and other professional
educators, make the final decision on student identification/placement into the program.
District Selection Committee
Responsibilities of the District Selection Committee may include:
1. To include classroom teachers, gifted specialist teachers, campus administrators and district coordinator.
2. Assists with policy and procedure updates.
3. Assists with admittance and review of selected students.
Selection Criteria
Students must meet the minimum criteria set by the District Selection Committee in order to be selected
for participation in the AISD Gifted and Talented program. Referred/Nominated students will be selected
based on both quantitative and qualitative measures. Examples and criteria:
AISD District Criteria:CogAT -97 Age NPR or above
ITBS – 96 PR or above
Critical/Creative Thinking Portfolio - 4
Parent/Teacher Inventory - 4
Phase One Testing:
Students are administered a CogAT either through district wide administration or "open testing" in March.
Student who meet district criteria are nominated/referred for final "Phase Two" testing.
Phase Two Testing:
Students who meet CogAT (aptitude) district criteria complete final testing with administration of
ITBS (reading and math grades K-5) and (reading and usage/expression grades 6-11) and a creative
critical thinking exercise. In addition, a parent/teacher inventory is evaluated for placement.
AISD screens all kindergarten and sixth grade students annually for gifted consideration. Research states
that standardized test scores are valid for two years. Students are eligible to test again in grade 2, 4, 6.
It is suggested that secondary in grades 7-11 test alternating years.
Aptitude screening offered for those students seeking nomination/referral who do not have current
data on file during March "open testing" period.
An observation inventory is used for teachers and parents to rate students on observed traits that are
characteristic of gifted and talented students. Portfolios are samples of student products grades K-2.
Each year the Gifted and Talented office selects activities designed to stimulate open-ended and creative
critical thinking. Grades 3-11, students respond to writing prompt and are scored holistically for purpose,
organization, elaboration, depth and complexity. Individual Review offers an alternative aptitude to students who scored extremely close on CogAT but
did not meet district criteria for further screening. Please contact Gifted and Talented office for further
information and registration. All requests must be submitted during current school year when test occurred.
IR requests must be received by end of April.
Appeals:
Students who complete both Phase I and Phase II testing and do not meet placement may appeal final decision
to district gifted office. Form listed above under Resources.
Students who participate in the Individual Review process are not eligible for an appeal as Individual Review
afforded students an additional aptitude testing opportunity. Individual Review testing results and placement
decisions are final.
Program Timeline & Procedures
August:
AISD new students screened.September/October:
Additional new student screening at end of first six weeks.
Students not previously in a gifted program or who attended a school where there was not a gifted and talented program
available and enroll in the AISD after the start of school will be screened during the spring assessment.
December:
Prescreen all Kindergarten students for GT program consideration.
January/February:
Assessment and placement for Kindergarten students.
Parent informational meetings.
Referral/Nomination registration available online.
March: Phase I
Aptitude screening available for GT consideration.
Identified Kindergarten students served in AIM program.
Referral/Nomination registration available online for students who meet district aptitude screening criteria.
April: Phase II Final Screening (ITBS and Critical/Creative Portfolio)
May: Individual Review Screening (additional aptitude opportunity)
June: GT placements decisions
July: Summer testing new AISD students
Furlough/Exit Procedure
A furlough may be granted at the request of a teacher and/or campus committee, student (K-12)
and/or parent. A student may be furloughed for a period of time deemed appropriate by the selection
committee, but a furlough will last no longer than the current school year. At the end of the current
school year, the student’s progress shall be reviewed and the student may re-enter the Gifted and
Talented program, or exit the program. Any student who exits the program must retest for re-entry.
It is strongly recommended that a student furlough at the end of the first six weeks or at semester only.
If a student furloughs at any time during the school year that suffices one time opportunity.
Students identified as gifted and talented may be exited from the Gifted and Talented program according
to the following guidelines. All students who exit the Gifted and Talented program, including those
identified as gifted and talented, shall be re-screened in order to re-enter the program.
Elementary: A student may furlough once K-6.
Middle School: A student may furlough once 7-8.
Secondary: Identified student may chose the Gifted course or other option and will maintain gifted status
through graduation.
Elementary GT Program
AIM – Grades K - 6
The AIM program provides a homogeneous grouping of identified elementary (K-6) gifted and talented
students that is designed to maximize their potential through in-depth and complex exploration of
interdisciplinary studies not included in the mainstream classroom. AIM is a pull-out program where
students are clustered in a classroom with a gifted and talented specialist teacher. The AIM curriculum
challenges students to develop and apply their talents through a variety of integrated, multidisciplinary
learning activities and projects. AIM curriculum serves to integrate Language Arts/Social Studies and
Science/Math through a rigorous, relevant, and enriched extension of the regular classroom. AIM
classroom activities focus on logic, problem solving, higher order thinking skills, critical and creative
thinking.
Kindergarten service begins in March of the year of identification. Students who qualify during spring a
ssessment begin service the following school year.
Secondary GT Programs
GT HUMANITIES-GRADES 7-8
These courses are available at each middle school campus for identified gifted and talented students.
Each course is a two period class which grants credit in both Social Studies and English/Language Arts.
Seventh grade students also participate in GT Reading course.
Students will develop and utilize reading, writing and verbal skills as vehicles for exploring and reflecting
on the political, social and economic issues that have shaped our society and defined our roles as citizens.
GT PHOENIX - GRADES 9-12
As a humanities-based course, Phoenix offers gifted and talented students in grade 9-12 a forum for
furthering their writing analysis, and strong reading skills. In the company of peers with similarly complex
and divergent levels of thinking, Phoenix students explore literature and its connection to critical ideas,
historical influences, and current events.
Phoenix students are prepared for and encouraged to take the rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) exams in
Language and Literature at the end of their junior and senior years, since the course incorporates
AP standards and terminology.
IB/GT - Grades 11-12
Identified students who are enrolled into International Baccalaureate (IB)are clustered in IB/GT classrooms
for English instruction and participate in IB placement exam.
High Achiever vs. Gifted
The high achieving child…
Knows the answers.
Is interested.
Pays attention.
Works hard.
Answers questions.
Enjoys same-age peers.
Is good at memorizing.
Learns easily.
Listens well.
Is self-satisfied. | The gifted child…
Asks the questions.
Is extremely curious.
Gets involved mentally and physically.
Plays around, still gets good scores.
Questions the answers.
Prefers adults or older children.
Is good at guessing.
Is bored. Already knew answers.
Shows strong feelings and opinions.
Is highly critical of self (perfectionist). |
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