The Middle School Transition Spring 2014 Sherry Wiedman Coordinator of Advanced Studies Fulton County Schools Wiedmans@fultonschools.org

Fulton County Elementary School Model The elementary student receives gifted services one day per week in a resource class. The class size is limited to 22 students. The student participates in challenging interdisciplinary units that are linked to science and social studies. While the student participates in a gifted resource class, assignments in general education classes are modified or eliminated depending on the student's academic strengths. Focus on building independent research skills, critical thinking and problem-solving

Fulton County Middle School Model The middle school student receives gifted services in one or more advanced core content classes TAG classes are part of the student's daily schedule Students will receive numeric grades for the class Class size is limited to 26 students Classes provide enrichment, extension and challenge to the required content curriculum of state standards Higher expectations for the quality of work, depth of thought and a movement towards independent work habits! Each subject area is independent of the others- students may qualify for multiple classes. There is also advanced options in math and ELA. Foreign language is considered an advanced class as well, so some students my be in as many as 5 advanced classes!

Placements are determined by… The student may be served in each content area for which he or she qualifies. Science and Social Studies- rising 6th grade The student must: have 5th grade teacher recommendation have an 80% or higher for the previous school year in the subject matter test scores within two years on a nationally-normed achievement test as follows: Social Studies at or above the 90th percentile in Social Studies Science at or above the 90th percentile in Science

Math Placements- Math placement for gifted students is determined by the general education math teacher based upon FC system guidelines for Continuous Achievement. Gifted eligibility is not a requirement for the advanced and accelerated math placements Rising 6th grade placements= 6th On Level 6th Advanced 7th On Level 7th Advanced

Language Arts Placements- LA placement for gifted students is determined by the general education ELA teacher based upon FC system guidelines for Continuous Achievement. Gifted eligibility is not a requirement for the advanced and accelerated ELA placements Rising 6th grade placements= 6th On Level 6th Advanced 7th On Level 7th Advanced

Alternative Placements- Gifted eligible students are placed in at least one content area for gifted services each year. Rising sixth grade students who are eligible for gifted services but do not meet the middle school placement criteria will be placed in one class by Alternative Placement guidelines. Alternative Placement may also be used to add either TAG Social Studies or TAG Science in 7th or 8th grade. Go over State rule- each child must get 5 segments of gifted service per week.

Alternative Placement Guidelines Eligible for TAG services and Recommendation of 5th grade teacher of the content area and Two of the following, with at least one addressing the specific content area Final class average of 90% or better in 4th grade or first semester of 5th grade Multiple work samples or products (for example: Science Fair or Social Studies Fair) Iowa Achievement score > 90% in Total Reading

Middle School Achievement consider this… Self-regulated work study habits Organizational skills Student interests Extra curricular activities Overall academic workload Natural maturation of your middle school student Consider your child’s “’work load” and “schedule”. Adding and or Dropping Serves If you drop a serve now, you may not add it again until next year. You cannot add a serve in which the student does not qualif- no waiver

Q & A Rising 6th grade Placement Guidelines Q&A - Middle School Placements http://www.fultonschools.org References to guidelines and policies