Huffman I.S.D. Gifted and Talented Information Meeting Thursday, September 17, 2015

Introductions Mrs. Gore – K-5 Lead GT Teacher Mrs. Hutchinson – BBECC Principal Mrs. Ruiz – BBECC Asst. Principal Mrs. Ross – BBECC Counselor Mrs. Turner – CES / HIS Principal Ms. Freeman – CES/HIS Asst. Principal Mrs. McEachern – CES/HIS Asst. Principal Mrs. Rhodes – CES / HIS Counselor Mrs. Roberts – CES / HIS Counselor

What is Gifted and Talented? Gifted and talented means a child or youth 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. Education Code HANDOUT: Bright Child/Gifted LearnerBright Child/Gifted Learner

How are these alike?

Screening Phase - OLSAT Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) The OLSAT is designed to measure abstract thinking and reasoning ability. The OLSAT measures performance on such tasks as: Detecting likenesses and differences Following directions Classifying Establishing sequence Completing analogies Solving matrixes

Screening Phase - OLSAT The test will be broken up into different sittings as deemed appropriate by the test administrator. Students are expected to make–up work that is missed from the regular class while they are testing. Testing Window – September 21 st – 25 th.  Students must score:  Stanine of 8 or >  School Ability Index (SAI) of 120 or higher  Percentile(89% - 95%)

Screening Phase - SIGS Scales for Identifying Gifted Students (SIGS) Teacher and Parent Evaluations Norm referenced rating scale – shows characteristics relating to giftedness when compared to peers. Assess seven areas: general intellectual ability, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, creativity, and leadership. Students must rank in the 75%ile in at least one area on the parent AND teacher evaluations.

SIGS Parent and Teacher SIGS will be handed out on Monday, September 21 st and are due by Friday, September 25 th. The SIGS data is part of the qualification process for GT. If the forms are not returned your child will not be considered any further in the GT testing process. Please be as specific as possible and elaborate in detail on the forms.

Building Selection Committee Committee members include an administrator, counselor, GT lead teacher, and GT certified teachers from each grade level. The Building Selection Committee will meet to determine which candidates will continue to the next portion of the identification process, the assessment phase. This process is a blind screening. Names are covered so that committee members focus on data only.

Building Selection Committee Committee members are looking for scores achieved on the OLSAT that are: a stanine of 8 or greater, SAI of 120 or greater, or 89%ile in order to continue to the assessment phase. Committee members are looking for scores achieved on the SIGS teacher and parent evaluations in which students rank in the 75%ile in at least one area. Parents will be notified by letter whether your child will or will not move forward to the Assessment Phase of GT testing.

Assessment Phase – SAT 10 Stanford Achievement Test 10 th Edition Assesses the basic curricular objectives in the areas of reading, mathematics, and environment. (Science and Social Studies) Students must score in the 90%ile in at least 1 of the tested areas. The test will be broken up into different sittings as deemed appropriate by the test administrator. Students are expected to make–up work that is missed from the regular class while they are testing. Testing Window – October 5 th – 9 th.

Building Selection Committee The Building Selection Committee will meet to determine which candidates meet the criteria in order to be placed into the gifted and talented REACH program. Committee members are looking at achievement scores that are in the 90%ile in at least one of the tested areas. This process is a blind screening. Names are covered so that committee members focus on data only.

Scoring Tests Tests are scored Matrix Placement is determined by the BSC Parents will be notified by letter whether your child will or will not be placed into the Gifted and Talented Program. Services begin as soon as permission is obtained.

Appeals Parents or students may appeal in writing to the campus counselor, any final decision of the Building Selection Committee regarding selection for, non- selection, or removal from the gifted program.

G/T Program: REACH G/T Lead Teacher: Trina Gore REACH: Reaching Excellent Academic and Creative Heights –Teaches grades K-5 –Pull out program –Inclusive differentiated program

REACH Class Numbers 1 st Grade = 3 students 2 nd Grade = 18 students 3 rd Grade = 23 students 4 th Grade = 25 students 5 th Grade = 31 students

Note Students new to the district who are not identified as gifted and talented and would like to be screened can be nominated for the next scheduled GT testing. If students test during the fall semester, they are then not eligible for GT testing the following spring. The student would not be eligible for GT testing until the following school year during the spring semester.

Deadline for Permission The deadline for parental permission to test is TOMORROW, Friday, September 18, 2015.

Questions? Contact : BBECC counselor, Deborah Ross CES / HIS counselor, Angela Rhodes CES / HIS counselor, Cindy Roberts Lead GT teacher, Trina Gore