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RRISD Referral, Screening, and Placement of

Talented and Gifted Services

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Assessment Process

State Definition
Gifted Programs
Quantitative and Qualitative Data

Gifted Services

K-2 Talent Development
3-5 Talent Development & Subjects
Middle School
High School

Referral Process and Timeline

Online Referral
Timeline

AGENDA

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Gifted & Talented

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, and environment.

Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted and Talented Students

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RRISD identifies students of general intellectual ability and specific academic aptitude.

The state requires a minimum of 3 assessments including quantitative and qualitative data.

We use a combination of nationally normed standardized tests for ability, reasoning, and achievement, as well as anecdotal data from teachers and/or parents. Additional measures are used as needed.

Students are eligible to test once per school year for Talented and Gifted Services.

Gifted Identification

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In Texas, gifted programs are created and implemented at the district level. As long as they are in accordance with the Texas State Plan, districts may choose the type of program, assessments, and guidelines for identification. These vary greatly from district to district.

Gifted Services

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In the fall semester, the campus TAG Specialist provide planned experiences in each Kindergarten class. These activities help us to screen for students who might be good candidates for the gifted program.

In October, every 2nd grade student is given a cognitive abilities assessment that is used to support classroom instruction as well as screen for students who might benefit from special programs such as gifted.

Universal Screening (Grade K & 2)

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Kindergarten - 2nd grade

Talent Development

Homeroom teacher trained in gifted education

30 hours - Modules 1-5

Students clustered with other identified TAG students

Differentiated curriculum as needed by classroom teacher with support of TAG specialist

Advanced level products or performances such as the Texas Performance Standards Project

Additional assessments given in the spring of 2nd grade for subject area consideration in 3rd grade

Kindergarten services begin AFTER identification.

RRISD offers an array of service options to best meet the needs of our students.

In Kindergarten through 2nd grade, students are served through an enrichment program called Talent Development.

Talent Development provides enrichment through the classroom teacher and the TAG specialist at each campus. Classroom teachers are trained to deliver differentiated curriculum support as well as supporting the social and emotional needs of students identified for gifted services. Students are clustered with these homeroom teachers in groups of at least 4 when possible, the Campus TAG specialist will work with these students to build critical thinking skills and complete Advanced Level Products and Performances. Additionally, the TAG specialist provides social and emotional support and skills development in subject areas as appropriate. All students are invited to showcase their work in the spring during our Vertical Learning Community District Showcase events.

In the spring of 2nd grade, all currently identified students, as well as any newly identified students, will take an nationally normed achievement test. This test, as well as additional district data, will be used to determine whether placement in specific subject areas are necessary. If no subject area is identified at that time, students will remain in Gifted Services through Talent Development.

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3rd -5th

Talent Development - Advanced Level Products and Performances

Second semester of 2nd grade and going forward, students who receive services in talent development will be further evaluated for subject area services and placed by the committee as needed.

Students given nationally normed achievement tests and other data reviewed as needed.

While every effort will be made to find a subject area placement, students without an area identified by sixth grade may be exited from TAG services.

At the 3rd - 5th grade level, students are first considered for Talent Development, those identified will then take additional assessments with nationally normed achievement tests. Additional data when needed will be used to identify needs in subject areas. Students who do not qualify for Talent Development will not take achievement tests.

Students who do not show a subject area or areas of strength will continue with Talent Development support. The classroom teacher, TAG specialist, and TAG selection and placement committee will continually monitor all students receiving gifted services to consider additional subject area support. Further testing may or may not be required. Data such as, student work samples, teacher observations, district/state testing data, and grades MAY be considered. Parents do not request additional testing, the TAG team will determine when and if this is necessary and will notify parents if additional testing will occur.

In the spring of 5th grade, an overall review of services for each student will be considered by the TAG team and recommendations will be made for placement in middle school courses. While every effort will be made to find a subject area prior to middle school, if a student remains in talent development with no subject area of strength, that student may be exited from the TAG program when entering middle school.

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The format of services may vary from campus to campus, but can be delivered through TAG trained cluster classroom teacher and/or the TAG specialist on campus through Advanced Level Products and Performances.

Depth and Complexity
Tiered Assignments
Menus
Reading groups
Research opportunities
Various other differentiation strategies

Elementary - Language Arts, Science, & Social Studies

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Accelerated math services begin in 3rd grade for those who show a need.
Each year 1.5 years of math curriculum are completed
STAAR Assessments

3rd grade TAG Math - 3rd STAAR
4th grade TAG Math - 5th STAAR
5th grade TAG Math - 6th STAAR

Elementary - Math Services

Accelerated math services begin in 3rd grade for students who show a need. The curriculum is compacted so that students take 1.5 years of math instruction in each course for grades 3-5. This allows students to be able to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade if they choose. Typically these classes are pulled out and instructed by the TAG Specialist on campus. All campuses follow the Aligned Round Rock Curriculum for TAG math.

Students will take the STAAR test that assesses the curriculum instruction they are receiving. In third grade, TAG math students will take the third grade STAAR. In fourth grade, since those students will complete the fourth grade TEKS and all of the fifth grade TEKS, they will take the fifth grade STAAR. In fifth grade, since those students will complete all of the 6th grade TEKS and part of the 7th grade TEKS, they will take the sixth grade STAAR.

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Middle School Services

Students are served in any or all of the four content areas: math, language arts, science, and social studies.
Classes are comprised of all TAG students or TAG and gen ed students combined.
Teachers have completed required TAG training (30 hours).
LA, Science, and Social Students are differentiated and enriched using depth and complexity strategies.
8th grade Advanced American History
Math is accelerated.

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Math Services

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When students are identified for math services in middle school, they will automatically be placed in Pathway 1. (Algebra in 8th)

If the student wishes to go into Pathway 2 the following school year, the student will need to take the appropriate Exam for Acceleration and make an 80 to gain credit and show mastery of that course.

If a student qualifies in 6th grade and wants to do Algebra in 7th she/he will need to take both the 7th and 8th grade exams for acceleration in the summer. The district offers this in May and August.

If a student qualifies in 7th grade and wants to be in Geometry in 8th, he/she would need credit for 8th grade math and Algebra 1.

Math Services - Middle School

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HIgh School Services

There are many advanced course and college credit options to meet the needs of TAG students in high school.

TAG Sections of Advanced Placement courses

AP Capstone (highly recommended)

UT OnRamps
ACC Dual Credit
International Baccalaureate (Stony Point and Westwood. McNeil is pending)
PLTW, DECA, HOSA, Debate, etc

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October - 2nd Grade Universal Screener administered on campus

November/December - Window open for referrals for gifted services

11/6 - 12/8

January/February - Assessments are given to students who have been referred

March/April - Notification letters are sent home

May - Deadline for examination for acceleration for newly identified 5th grade math students

July or August - Summer TAG testing for student NEW to the district

Referral Timeline

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Questions?

For More Information, Campus Contact,

and Specific Dates for Referrals

Please visit the District TAG Website

https://advancedacademics.roundrockisd.org/tag/