1. Huffman I.S.D. Gifted and Talented Information Meeting Thursday, September 22, 2011

2. Introductions Angela Rhodes– BBECC Counselor Cindy Hoey- HIS Counselor Cindy Roberts-CES Counselor Paige McEachern-G/T Lead Teacher for BBECC / CES / HIS

3. 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 29.121 HANDOUT: Bright Child/Gifted Learner

4. 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

5. 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 26 th – 30 th.  Students must score:  Stanine of 8 or >  School Ability Index (SAI) of 120 or higher  Percentile(89% - 95%)

6. 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.

7. Building Selection Committee Committee members are looking for scores achieved that are a stanine of 8 or greater, SAI of 120 or greater, or 89 %ile on the OLSAT in order to continue to the assessment phase. Parents will be notified by letter whether your child will or will not move forward to the Assessment Phase of GT testing.

8. Assessment 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.

9. Assessment Phase – SAT 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 10 th – 14 th.

10. 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. This process is a blind screening. Names are covered so that committee members focus on data only.

11. Building Selection Committee Committee members are looking at achievement scores that are in the 90%ile in at least one of the tested areas. Committee members are looking at SIGS scores that are in the 75%ile in at least one area on the parent AND teacher evaluations.

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

13. 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.

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

15. REACH Class Numbers 1 st Grade = 8 students 2 nd Grade = 7 students 3 rd Grade = 13 students 4 th Grade = 23 students 5 th Grade = 27 students

16. 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 in the spring. The student would not be eligible for testing until the following school year during the spring semester.

17. Deadline for Permission The deadline for parental permission to test is TOMORROW, Friday, September 23, 2011.

18. Questions? Contact : BBECC counselor, Angela Rhodes at 281-324-7540 arhodes@huffmanisd.net HIS counselor, Cindy Hoey at 281-324-7637 choey@huffmanisd.net CES counselor, Cindy Roberts at 281-324-7647 croberts@huffmanisd.net Lead GT teacher, Paige McEachern at 281-324-7100 pmceachern@huffmanisd.net