EL CAMPO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Identification and Nomination Packet for the Gifted/Talented Program

Parents: Please retain in your files for future reference.

NOMINATION PACKET PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The District definition of giftedness is based on the state definition: “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: (1) exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area; (2) possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or (3) excels in a specific academic field. Texas Legislature 1995.

The El Campo ISD Gifted/Talented Program provides services for students identified as having significantly advanced general intellectual ability and/or specific academic aptitude. G/T classes and/or services are available in grades K-12. Teachers serving identified G/T students have met the state requirements necessary of assignment of gifted/talented students.

In the elementary grades, identified Kindergarten students are served in a heterogeneous classroom and receive specially designed differentiated instruction delivered by G/T trained teachers. In grades 1-5, identified students are clustered within heterogeneous classrooms at each grade level on each campus and receive differentiated instruction by G/T trained teachers. The aligned TEKS-based lessons provide students the opportunity to explore content in depth, with complexity, and flexibility in pacing.

At the secondary level, in grades 6-8, identified students are served within core content areas in Pre-AP classes. Instructional needs are met by G/T trained and College Board trained teachers. The curriculum is designed to meet the special needs of gifted students with emphasis on modifications in content, processes used for learning, and student products. In grades 9-12, identified students are served within core subject area Pre-AP, AP classes, and/or Dual Enrollment classes. These programs are designed for students who wish to delve into the disciplines in more depth and expand their understandings at a faster pace. College credit may be received after participation in AP classes and successfully passing the appropriate AP exams.

IDENTIFICATION OF GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS

ECISD assures that all populations of the district have access to assessment and, if identified, services are provided. Any student enrolled in ECISD is eligible for screening and placement in the Gifted/Talented Program if the eligibility requirements are met. Assessments are scheduled in the spring. Each campus will follow the district policies, procedures, and deadlines regarding the identification process. The three phases of identification include nomination, screening, and selection.

PHASE I: Nomination Through an open nomination system, efforts are made to secure nominations from any person familiar with a student’s abilities, potential performance, and/or past performance. Students may be nominated by one of the following: parent, teacher, principal, counselor, librarian, student (self/peer), and/or community member.

A completed nomination and parental consent form are required for all special testing. These forms are located at each campus office.

PHASE II: Screening The principal on each campus is responsible for organizing a Screening and Selection Committee composed of five professional staff members to coordinate the identification process activities. This committee is composed of the campus principal, District Advanced Academics Facilitator, a counselor, and classroom teachers.

NOMINATION PACKET This committee compiles and organizes available data to facilitate decision-making for the selection of the students consistent with district policy and procedures.

In order to screen students for the G/T Program, data is collected from various sources and instruments. To ensure student equity, data from both qualitative and quantitative measures must be used in the identification process. Sources and instruments may include but are not limited to:  Abilities/Aptitude tests  Screening assessments for academics and reasoning  Behavior checklists completed by teachers that identify observed characteristics of gifted children  Non-verbal reasoning tests  Other measures comparable to those listed above.

The District Advanced Academics Facilitator will maintain a file for collecting screening data. Confidentiality is assured regarding the rights of privacy of the individual according to legal standards. Information collected is available only to those who need to use it for educational purposes.

The District Advanced Academics Facilitator is available to confer with the parent to explain findings of the committee and the rationale for the decision. All collected data will be available to parents.

PHASE III: Selection The Campus Screening and Selection Committee will consider each nominated student. Based on established district standards, the committee may recommend that the student remain in the regular program or place the student in the G/T Program if the student meets the qualifying criteria.

Selection for the G/T Program will be based upon a preponderance of the data gathered which appears on the student summary profile. Students performing at or above the district line on the majority of the available measures involving at least 3 categories, having at least one qualitative and one quantitative indicator at or above the district line, may qualify for placement in the G/T Program.

Identification Timeline

August – December Nominations submitted to the campuses

January – February Screening and testing for the G/T Program

February Notification of assessment results for March 1 placement of Kindergarten students

June Notification of assessment results for August placement of students in grades 1-11

NOMINATION PACKET REASSESSMENT The District shall not perform routine reassessments.

APPEALS Parents, teachers, or students may appeal any final decision of the Campus Screening and Selection Committee regarding selection for or removal from the gifted program within 30 days of the parent notification. Any subsequent appeals will be made in accordance with FNG (Local) beginning at Level II.

TRANSFER STUDENTS Students transferring into the district who bring written documentation of previous identification as a gifted and talented student in another district will be temporarily placed in the program until the end of the school year. Written documentation from the last district must be available to show that the student was in an academic gifted program, not one for creativity, honor, or high ability students.

Private and home-schooled students entering ECISD for the first time are considered transfer students and fall within the transfer guidelines previously described.

FURLOUGHS Students in the G/T Program may be furloughed at the request of the student, parent, or school personnel. A furlough may not be extended past one year. If the student is not ready to re-enter the program by the beginning of the following school year, the student must be exited from the program. Secondary students, with schedule conflicts that prohibit their participation in G/T classes, are placed on furlough for the semester of the conflict.

EXIT PROCEDURES Students placed in the El Campo ISD Gifted/Talented Program may be exited when it is determined that it would be in the best interest of the student and/or the program to discontinue the student’s participation.

For further information, please contact your school counselor:

Myatt: Holly Cranek Hutchins: Elaine Rawlings Northside: Jonica Kielman ECMS: Cindy Witcher ECHS: Sara Kahla

NOMINATION PACKET Is your child gifted? Parents of bright students who perform well in school often wonder if their child may be gifted. Successful students are often high achievers. They make good grades and get along well with others. Consider the differences between high achievers and gifted students.

High Achievers Gifted Learners Knows the answers Asks the questions Is interested in learning Is highly curious Copies accurately Creates a new design or way of doing it Is attentive in class Is mentally and physically involved “Loves the teacher” Loves ideas Has good ideas Has wild, silly ideas Answers the questions Discusses in detail, elaborates Good memorizer Good, informed guesser Completes assignments Initiates projects Works hard Plays around, yet tests well A top group student Is beyond the group Is pleased with his/her own learning Is highly self-critical Learns with ease Already knows Wants the “rules” of the assignment “I want to do it my way” Enjoys peers Prefers older students or adults

If your child consistently shows characteristics of giftedness rather than characteristics of high achievement, you may want to nominate your child for the ECISD Gifted/Talented Program.

To nominate a child, the parent must complete a permission to test form. Nomination forms are available at each school office. The deadline for placing nominations for grades 1–11 is the last day of November. For further information, please contact your building counselor.

NOMINATION PACKET NOMINATION PACKET STUDENT ID: ______

EL CAMPO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENT NOMINATION FOR GIFTED/TALENTED PROGRAM

Student Name: ______Campus: ______Last first

Date of Birth: ______Gender: M or F Current Grade: ______

Ethnicity:  African American  Hispanic  White  Other

Parent/Guardian’s Name: ______

Address: ______Street City State Zip

Home Phone: ______Work Phone/Cell Phone: ______

Homeroom Teacher (if applicable)______Nominated by: ______

In your opinion, why do you think this student qualifies for the gifted program? What special characteristics does he/she exhibit? ______

______

______

I realize this nomination alone does not mean the student will be accepted into the program. This nomination only indicates that I would like for the above-named student to be considered as a possible candidate.

Date: ______Signature of Person Making Nomination: ______

Completed nomination forms are due in the school office no later than the last day of November.

CONSENT TO TEST:

ECISD has my permission to give the tests that are necessary for decisions to be made about G/T Program placement.

______Date Signature of Parent/Guardian

NOMINATION PACKET