GT Referral Process

Dear Parents,

 

Our 2018-2019 Gifted and Talented Identification Process will begin September 19, 2018.  The link below will become active September 19th.   Please read below for important information regarding our process.  Once again all applications must be submitted online.

 

Click here for a flyer. The flyer is an invitation to attend a Gifted and Talented Awareness meeting.  Representatives from Advanced Academics will present information and be available to answer your questions.  As always , please call my office or email me if you have any questions.

 

2018-2019 Gifted and Talented Identification Process

Ana Vazao, Counselor

ana.vazao@springbranchisd.com

 

Spring Branch ISD provides a comprehensive continuum of services (K-12) that is responsive to the needs, interests, and abilities of gifted and talented students. The Gifted and Talented Program identifies and serves the special educational needs of students with advanced learning abilities in language arts/social studies, and/or mathematics/science.

 

Parents who would like to refer their child for screening must provide permission for assessment and complete the on-line Parent Referral Form.

 

Referral Forms are available on-line at https://sbgifted.schoolmint.net. The link will become active September 19, 2018.  These forms must be completed by Monday,October 22, 2018.

 

Please note that no late referrals can be accepted due to timeline constraints.

 

Important Information about the GT Identification Process

Planned Experiences

SBISD implements standardized screening activities in every classroom K-5. These are short, educational activities that teachers will incorporate into their lesson plans. By doing the activities with all students, teachers will be screening all students for possible referral for the GT program. Regardless of performance on these activities, parents may refer their children for the GT program. The assessment of these activities will be combined into one measure to be included in the GT identification process.

Two-Step Process

SBISD has developed a two-step identification process to efficiently assess students’ needs for the services provided by the Gifted and Talented Program. Level 1 is the first step of the process. Data in Level 1 of the process will be collected for every student referred for the GT program. This step includes collecting data from:

  • students through the Planned Experiences mentioned above,
  • teachers through a standardized behavioral inventory,
  • from parents through the parent inventory
  • MAP District Testing (NRT)

 

A student must have at least one score that meets the GT standard in Level 1 to continue in the identification process. Students who have no scores meeting the GT standard in Level 1 will not continue in the identification process and will not be tested.

 

Level 2 is the second step of the identification process. Level 2 includes the administration of nationally standardized, norm-referenced tests. This testing will take place during the school day. The district identification committee will review the data collected for all students who completed Level 2 of the process to determine which students’ data indicate the need for GT services.

 

Honor Scores for Two Years

SBISD will honor test scores for two years, beginning in 1st grade. The publishers of standardized tests clearly indicate that the scores are representative of a student’s ability for a two-year period. For this reason, we will honor a student’s scores acquired through the GT identification process for two years. This does not include Kindergarten students. Students may be referred each year, but the previous year’s test scores will be utilized. Students that were tested last year will not be re-tested again this school year for GT identification. 

 

October 22nd – GT On-line Referral Deadline   https://sbgifted.schoolmint.net

 

No late referrals can be accepted due to timeline constraints.

 

November 9th – Level 1 parent notification letters mailed. This letter will be mailed to all parents of students that were referred indicating whether the child will continue in the screening process and take the standardized tests.

 

November 26th-December 14th, 2018 – Window for Level 2 testing of only those students who qualified in Level 1. 

 

February 19th – Notification to parents regarding Level 2 mailed

 

February 25th – Kindergarten services begin for students who qualified for services

 

April 29th – All GT appeals due to counselor

 

May 22nd – Appeals notification mailed to parents