About the Gifted and Talented Program

Services-Creekside Gifted and Talented Service Design

Primary Students:  kindergarten-2nd grade

All primary students are considered for gifted/talented and other advanced level services as the teachers get to know the learning potential of each child.  This consideration is a collaborative effort that involves lessons specifically designed to reveal that potential.

Kindergarten

All students will receive the following GT services:

• Classroom teachers with a minimum of 6 hours GT training

• Four LISD Planned Experiences, led and assessed by GT facilitator in regular classrooms

• Curriculum differentiation as needed 

Grade 1

All students will receive the following GT services:

• Classroom teachers with a minimum of 6 hours GT training

• Three LISD Planned Experiences, led and assessed by GT Facilitator in regular classrooms

• Curriculum differentiation as needed

Students with evidence of emerging GT potential in Kindergarten Planned Experiences and/or non verbal ability assessments will be placed in 1st grade GT Cluster Classrooms at the beginning of the school year. Near the end of 1st grade, parents of students with evidence of GT potential and testing readiness will be notified of opportunities for GT identification testing.

Grade 2

All students will receive the following GT services:

• Classroom teachers with a minimum of 6 hours GT training

• Two LISD Planned Experiences, led and assessed by GT Facilitator in regular classroom

• Curriculum differentiation as needed

• Opportunities for GT identification testing throughout the year

• Nonverbal, Verbal, and Quantitative screener for all students

Intermediate Students:  Grades 3-5

All students will receive the following GT services:

•  Classroom teachers with a minimum of 6 hours GT training

• Pull Out, Push in or varied assignments.  

• Opportunities for GT identification testing throughout the year

All identified GT students have an annual individualized GT Service Plan, designed by the campus GT facilitator with input from the student's parents/guardians and classroom teacher, indicating GT services that will be provided to best meet the child's educational, social, and emotional needs.  Services may be adjusted at the end of grading periods, semester and/or school year, if needs change.

Identification

Who can request Gifted and Talented identification testing?

Testing can be requested by teachers, students, parents/guardians, counselors, or administrators throughout the school year.  Students in grades K-2 are encouraged to wait until their GT Planned Experiences and/or aptitude assessments indicate GT testing readiness. Students identified as GT in other public school districts, who provide acceptable testing documentation, will begin GT Services as soon as their documentation is received and approved by the district and permission is granted from the parent.

How will the GT testing be administered?

If permission is given, your child will be pulled out of the regular classroom for 6-9 small group testing sessions.  Testing sessions are arranged between the GT facilitator and the classroom teacher and will not exceed one hour in length at a time.  There are generally six testing opportunities for testing throughout the year.  The testing is on-going and the time for testing depends on when the request is made.  The facilitator will process the requests in a timely manner but it is a lengthy process.

How will my student qualify for identified GT Services?

After the tests are complete, the facilitator will compile the data, review the information and carefully consider results with a campus selection committee.  The campus recommendations will be sent to the district screening committee for review and placement recommendation. 

How will I be notified of the GT identification testing results?

At the end of the testing round, after the district selection committee has met, your child will bring home a sealed letter informing you of their placement recommendation.  

If the student qualifies for identified GT Services,  it is encouraged that you set up a conference to meet the GT Facilitator, go over the data gathered, and discuss your child.

If the child does not qualify, they must wait at least one calendar year before retesting.

If my child qualifies for identified GT Services, what services will be provided?

Identified GT Services are designed to develop critical and creative thinking skills, problem solving skills, and reference skills for students demonstrating gifted abilities.  The specific services each student receives vary, depending on the student’s placement recommendation and emerging educational, social, and emotional needs.  

How do I start the GT identification process?

Complete a GT Parent Survey and Permission to test form and return to the classroom teacher or to Mrs. Morris.  These forms can be obtained by contacting and discussing your referral with your child's teacher.  

Kindergarteners are tested only after January 1 of the kindergaten school year.

Gifted and Talented Goals and Objectives

Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted and Talented

In 1990, the State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students was adopted by the Texas State Board of Education and revised in 2009.  The most significant revision was very simple. Instead of qualifying students for a GT Program, students now qualify for GT Services.  The State Plan forms the basis of GT services and accountability in LISD.

State Goal for Gifted/Talented Student Services

Students who participate in services designed for gifted/talented students will demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communications as evidenced by the development of innovative products and performances that reflect individuality and creativity and are advanced in relation to students of similar age, experience, or environment.  

LISD Gifted and Talented Mission 

Through the establishment of secure and free learning environments, LISD GT students continuously seek out challenges to: 

1. Promote scholarly behaviors that discover, develop and leverage capacity 

2. Effectively communicate and collaborate

3. Foster critical thinking by manipulating abstract ideas and making deep connections

4. Promote creativity and innovation

5. Develop self awareness and social consciousness

LISD GT Goals and Objectives 

The Gifted student will:

• Become aware of his or her own unique potential and learning style in order to develop these abilities for the betterment of self and society.

 • Utilize higher level thinking skills to develop intellectual curiosity in critical, creative and productive thinking. 

• Understand and apply the problem-solving process in a cooperative group setting through analysis and evaluation of a real life situation.

• Develop reference skills for using multiple concepts and resources in synthesizing an advanced product.