Referral of students in grades K-12 for McKinney ISD ALPHA
Referrals for students in grades1-12, 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 24, 2009, through February 11, 2010 (elementary), and March 11, 2010 (secondary). The referral period is open and ongoing; students’ needs are continually monitored. Referral occurs as needed throughout this period.
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 ALPHA teacher receiving referral form. Referral forms are available on each campus from the counselor or ALPHA teacher. Parents, teachers and/or students may nominate prospective candidates.
Elementary Testing Dates
- Fall Test Dates: Grades 1-2-3
October 26-30, 2009 (on campus)
Deadline for referral: October 14, 2009
- Kindergarten Screening:
January 25 – February 5, 2010
All kindergarten students enrolled
in MISD by February 5, 2010,
will be screened.
- Spring Test Dates:
Grades1-5
March 1-12, 2010 (on campus)
Deadline referral: February 10, 2010
Secondary Testing Dates
- Test Date: Grades 6 – 12
August 21, 2009
(Only open for students new
to the District that were in a
prior gifted and talented program)
Deadline for referral:
August 17, 2009
- Test Date: Grades 6 – 12
September 26, 2009, Saturday
Deadline for referral:
September 10, 2009, Thursday
- Test Date: Grades 6 – 12
December 12, 2009, Saturday
Deadline for referral:
November 12, 2009, Thursday
- Test Date: Grades 6 – 11
April 17, 2010, Saturday
Deadline for referral:
March 11, 2010, Thursday
MISD's philosophy for gifted and talented programming encompasses four core benefits.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- Exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative or artistic area
- Possesses an unusual capacity for leadership or
- 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:
