GT Hours for 2021-2022

Principals - please send the information below to your teachers regarding GT hours for the 2021-2022 school year. When you send it to them, please CC: shickman@bisdmail.net on the email.

Additional information:

• All teachers (except second or third grade teachers) will complete their 6-hour GT update at August PD days.

• You will be receiving the 2021-2022 spreadsheet to track GT hours soon. You are responsible for updating the rows with any personnel changes (pink columns), and the Advanced Academics office will update the record for GT hours (blue columns).

• Late hires (after August PD days) will complete their 30-hour or 6-hour training online through Region 11 by November 30.

• Elementary - if you have second or third grade teachers who need their 30-hour GT training, and if you do not place GT or Talent Pool students in their class, they can delay that training for a year due to the Reading Academy.

• Elementary principals do not need to get their annual 6-hour GT update this summer due to the Reading Academy.

• Secondary principals who oversee Pre-AP will need to take College Board's training for Pre-AP, which will serve as the 6-hour update. More details will be coming soon.

Thanks!

Elementary email (please copy the gif below as well):

Teachers and counselors,

As we align our district practices for gifted and talented services to TEA's updated State Plan for Gifted and Talented Education, there will be some changes to requirements for GT hours. For a full description of the requirements, see the FAQ regarding Gifted and Talented Professional Development in the BISD Program Manual for Academically Gifted and Talented Students. All GT hours should be completed before the first day of school.

1. Kindergarten, First, Fourth, and Fifth grade teachers will complete their 6-hour update during August PD.

2. Second and Third grade teachers will need to complete their 6-hour update online through Responsive Learning by JULY 31, 2021. The district's contract for the hours expires at that point, so hours must be completed by then. Please register in Strive here, and then complete the registration in Responsive Learning (see the directions in the Notes & Attachment tab and the gif below).

3. Counselors will need to complete their 6-hour update online by the first day of school. Please register in Strive here, and then complete the course in Schoology (attached soon in the Notes & Attachment tab).

4. Any teacher who needs the 30-hour training should register in Strive here, and then register for the 30 hours at Region 11 (see the directions in the Notes & Attachment tab).

For support, please contact Seth Hickman or Kandice Collins.

Secondary email:

Teachers and counselors,

As we align our district practices for gifted and talented services to TEA's updated State Plan for Gifted and Talented Education, there will be some changes to requirements for GT hours. For a full description of the requirements, see the FAQ regarding Gifted and Talented Professional Development in the BISD Program Manual for Academically Gifted and Talented Students. All GT hours should be completed before the first day of school. The 30-hour training and 6-hour updated are needed for teachers of Honors, Pre-AP, AP, and GT classes. If you complete any hours outside of Pre-AP Online Foundational Module Series for Teachers (OFMST) or APSI, you are responsible for ensuring your hours are entered and approved in Strive by the beginning of the school year.

For teachers who need their initial 30 GT hours

• Attending APSI or Pre-AP OFMST (APSI or Pre-AP OFMST counts for 18 of the 30 hours):

  • You are registered for APSI or Pre-AP OFMST in Strive - you must fill out the survey after APSI or Pre-AP OFMST to receive credit (18 hours)

  • Complete two Region 11 GT courses for the remaining 12 hours. The two courses should be Nature & Needs and ID & Assessment. See the Notes & Attachment tab in the APSI Strive course for additional information.

• Not attending APSI or Pre-AP OFMST:

  • Register for the 30-hour Training in Strive. The course will be completed through Region 11 online. (See the Notes & Attachment tab in the Strive course for additional information.)

For teachers who have previously completed their initial 30 hours

• The 6-hour update will be included in August PD. If you are attending APSI or completing the Pre-AP OFMST, you must complete the survey in Strive afterwards to receive credit.

For a counselor with responsibility for GT students (6 hours)

• Counselors will need to complete their 6-hour update online by the first day of school. Please register in Strive here, and then complete the course in Schoology (attached soon in the Notes & Attachment tab).

For support, please contact Seth Hickman or Kandice Collins.