Gifted and Talented

 

TEA Gifted and Talented Documentation:

Gifted and Talented programs are required in all public school districts. Detailed program requirement information is available in this Texas State Plan for the Gifted document (Spanish version available here). If you have questions about the information in the State Plan document, the Texas Education Agency's Advanced Academics Unit has published this Frequently Asked Questions document.

TEA Gifted and Talented Advanced Academics Frequently Asked Questions:
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/gted/staplafaq.html

Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students - New Version
http://www.region10.org/AdvancedAcademics/documents/StatePlanfortheGiftedEnglishversion.pdf

Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students - Spanish
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/gted/GTStatePlanSpanishAug05.pdf

Referral of students in grades K-12 for McKinney ISD ALPHA Gifted and Talented Program for the school year 2011-2012 is open.

Referrals for students in grades 1-12, who are not currently being served in the McKinney ISD Gifted and Talented Program (ALPHA) or who have not participated in the screening process in the past twelve months, will be accepted starting August 23, 2011, through February 1, 2012 (elementary), and March 21, 2012 (secondary). The referral period is open and ongoing; students’ referred after the deadline will be evaluated in the following school year.

New students, who participated in a gifted and talented program in their previous district, need to notify their MISD counselor of the GT services they were receiving. Those students will be evaluated according to MISD criteria, and, if qualified, will be placed in the program within six weeks of the ALPHA teacher receiving a referral form. Referral forms are available on each campus from the counselor or ALPHA teacher. They are also available on: www.mckinneyisd.net. Parents, teachers and/or students may nominate prospective candidates.

Elementary Testing Dates

  • Test Dates for Grades 1
    Gifted and Talented Evaluation at Webb Elementary
    Saturday, December 3, 2011
    8:15 Check-in for 8:30 Testing
    Deadline for 1-2 referral:
    Wednesday, October 26, 2011
    Due to the number of students being evaluated, referrals will not be accepted after the deadline.
  • Test Dates for Grades 2
    Gifted and Talented Evaluation at Webb Elementary
    Saturday, December 10, 2011
    8:15 Check-in for 8:30 Testing
    Deadline for 1-2 referral:
    Wednesday, October 26, 2011
    Due to the number of students being evaluated, referrals will not be accepted after the deadline.
  • Make-Up Test Date for 1st & 2nd grade
    students (only).
    Monday, January 2, 2012
  • Test Dates for Grades K
    January 2-20, 2012 (on campus kindergarten only)
    All kindergarten students enrolled in MISD by February 4, 2012 will be screened.
  • Spring test dates: Grades 3-5
    Saturday, March 3, 2012
    Deadline referral: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
    Due to the number of students being evaluated, referrals will not be accepted after the deadline.

Secondary Testing Dates

  • Test Date: Grades 6 – 12
    Saturday, October 8, 2011
    Deadline for referral Wednesday, September 28, 2011
  • Test Date: Grades 6 – 11
    April 21, 2012, Saturday
    Deadline for referral Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Staff

Karen J. Green

Gifted & Talented Specialist
Email: Karen J. Green

MISD's philosophy for gifted and talented programming encompasses four core benefits.

  1. Gifted students view the world in nontraditional ways; they are divergent thinkers. Therefore, they require curriculum differentiation, which modifies learning experiences to address their complex and unusual learning styles.
  2. Variances occur in the gifted population with the same frequency as in the general population. Gifted children can be culturally diverse and come from any socio-economic environment. They may have learning disabilities, behavior problems or handicaps. Therefore, the selection process for services should be sensitive to this diversity.
  3. Students may be gifted in one content area and not gifted in others. Therefore, programs should be designed to allow participation in the student's particular area (s) of giftedness.
  4. Gifted students need to a) master required content, b) learn basic skills, c) present ideas through traditional product forms, and d) understand how to access and organize information..

However, mastery of the required curriculum is not sufficient for the development of their talents. Therefore, opportunities for specific talent development should be provided.

According to the State of Texas

According to the State of Texas, “a gifted and talented student is a child or youth who performs at or shows 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

Program Goals:

The goals of the ALPHA (gifted and talented) program are to provide opportunities for developing:

  • Critical and creative thinking and problem solving strategies
  • Strong self-concepts
  • Intellectual and creative abilities
  • Self-directed and life-long learning skills

High school graduates in this program will exceed the MISD graduate profile with products and performances of professional quality. The ALPHA program will provide rigorous, creative, challenging, relevant, and meaningful curriculum.

Purpose:

The purpose of the ALPHA (gifted and talented) program is to identify gifted students and nurture their special abilities and needs; thereby, assisting them in translating their gifts of potential into productive performances and products that are commensurate with their abilities.

Power Points & Information: