When will my student be tested/retested for a subject area?

At the end of second grade all TAG second graders will complete subject based testing. Students are placed in their subject area courses at the start of third grade. Students do not receive these tests more than once, necessary changes are only made by the TAG Committee during the student's regularly scheduled review. Students who are new to the district or those who are identified for TAG after 2nd grade will also take this subject based testing to establish initial subject area placement.

The TAG committee collects data about current TAG students throughout the school year including our observations in the TAG classroom and information the homeroom teacher provides. The TAG Screening and Placement Committee reviews this information at the end of each quarter and again at the end of their year during their annual review. Changes may be made based on a preponderance of evidence provided during Talent Development and/or homeroom teacher observations/evidence. Parents will be notified of this change if additional services are determined to be needed.

Parents and students are notified of the additions with the annual review form that is sent home with their report cards at the end of the year.

Can you look into adding services for my child?

The TAG committee collects data about current TAG students throughout the school year including our observances in the TAG classroom and information the homeroom teacher provides. The TAG Screening and Placement Committee reviews this information at the end of each quarter and again at the end of the school year during the annual review. Changes may be made based on a preponderance of evidence provided during Talent Development and/or homeroom teacher observations/evidence. There are no additional formal test screenings, although we may give additional informal assessments for added data points.

Can I ask you to look at my child to add services at the beginning or middle of the year?

Although, we may add services at the end of the school year, we rarely do this mid-year. This only happens if a student shows mastery and a high level of understanding that far exceeds their classmates' in the general education classroom.

How will you know if my student needs additional services?

RRISD elementary schools have a program called Talent Development which provides differentiation through an array of cross curricular learning experiences for those who have been identified for services. Teacher observations along with homeroom teacher input will become part of the student's end of the year annual review. Further data points will be collected for those students who show that another academic strength is emerging. If that occurs, the TAG committee will meet to discuss if the child would benefit from adding services. Parents will be notified at the end of the school year if a decision to add services has occurred.

What do services look like for a Kinder student or a 1st or 2nd grader?

Kinder students are not formally identified until after January testing. Whole classroom enrichment provided by a TAG specialist takes place a few times a year. First and second grade students who are identified as needing TAG services will participate in Talent Development. When they begin their 3rd grade year they will receive specific subject based instruction in addition to Talent Development. Talent Development includes differentiation in their homeroom with a cluster teacher, skill development in all core content, participation in an independent study project, social and emotional lessons/support, and opportunities for creativity and discovery. Every identified RRISD TAG student is enrolled in Talent Development and remains in it until middle school (when the program ends).

What is the process for having TAG services for a transfer student? If they were in a G/T program at a different school are they automatically in TAG at FCE?

If a student is identified in TAG and transferring from a school within RRISD then they would be in the TAG program automatically here at Forest Creek. If a student is currently in a TAG program from another district or out of state then two things may occur:

a) if the student has qualifying scores AND the assessment was completed within 2 years, the TAG Screening and Placement Committee may accept those as automatically qualifying for our TAG program at Sommer depending on the testing measures.

b) If there are no qualifying scores, one qualifying score, old qualifying scores or assessments aren't common for G/T, then the student will be retested. The student must have qualifying scores in order to be identified for needing TAG services.

My child is only in TD (Talent Development). Will they be retested to qualify for a subject area?

There are no additional formal test screenings once a child is identified for needing gifted services. However, we may give additional informal assessments for additional data points. RRISD elementary schools have a program called Talent Development which provides differentiation through an array of cross curricular learning experiences for those who have been identified for services. Teacher observations along with homeroom teacher input will become part of the student's end of the year annual review. Further data points will be collected for those students who show that another academic strength is emerging. If that occurs, the TAG committee will meet to discuss if the child would benefit from adding services. Parents will be notified at the end of the school year if a decision to add services has occurred.

. ** Please note that a child in 5th grade who has not shown a strength in any certain subject area will be placed on a growth plan 2nd semester as they cannot enter transfer into TAG middle school courses without an identified subject area. **

Why do you give so many tests?

The Texas Education Agency requires that districts assess students using a minimum of three criteria. Round Rock ISD uses more than three because multiple indicators tell more about the different facets of students’ abilities, therefore providing more opportunities for students to meet a minimum of three criteria.

Why do we have to refer so early in the school year?

By the end of November, when referral forms are due, students will have been in school for four months; almost half of the school year. Early referral is necessary so that adequate time exists for the Screening and Placement Committee to review student files and collect needed information to initiate testing which takes place in January and early February. Testing must be scheduled then to avoid a number of end-of-the-year tests that take place in March, April, and May. Tests given in January and February are machine scored outside the district and require six weeks to process. Placement forms are then developed and Campus Screening and Placement Committees review the new data. Final determination of the student’s status is made and notices sent by the end of the school year for placement the following school year. Without early referral and testing,placement decisions could not be made until after school begins in August.

Why does the district not use STAAR scores to determine placement?

The STAAR test is an inappropriate measure for identification for a gifted program. STAAR is a criterion-referenced test designed to determine if a designated, core curriculum is being taught to Texas students. As a result, the test does not look at knowledge and/or skills that are above the students’ grade levels. Identifying students for a gifted program requires determining if they are functioning significantly above grade level; something the STAAR test does not indicate.