FAQ 


TAG Math Flowchart - for middle school and high school

Current TAG Math 5th Graders will go to Accel 2-TAG

Here is a brief explanation of the different math options for 6th graders next year (this information is from the Cedar Valley parent Google Slides):



For 5th grade students that are not currently in 5th TAG Math, they do have the option to take the 6th Grade Math EFA test at the end of this school year to see if they can be placed in 6th Grade Math Accel 2.  If a student scores an 80% or higher on the 6th Grade Math EFA test, they will be able to be placed in the 6th Grade Math Accel 2 course.  Please note that if your child does pass this test and is able to be placed in that course, he/she will not be considered to be in TAG Math, but still in the same class as other TAG Math students.  THIS IS DONE WITH THE COUNSELORS.


6th Grade Math Accel 1 will also have other TAG Math students (if they are newly identified) and is a great option for students who want to take a faster pace math course next year.  Students do not have to pass a test in order to get into Accel 1 Math.


If you are interested in signing your child up for this test, there is a very short "application" that will have available starting after Spring Break from the counselors.  Please contact Mrs. Macre, the counselor.  They will be accepting applications until mid/late April, and then will do the testing sometime in May before the end of the school year.

Question: Where is information about the Science Accel offered in Middle Schools? 

You can find information on RRISD Advanced Academics website or click here.

Question: What will Language Arts services look like? 

Answer:   services are provided by homeroom teachers who have received the 30 hour TAG foundational training and annual updates.

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

Answer:  Kinder students are not formally identified until after January testing.  Whole classroom enrichment provided by a TAG specialist takes a few times a year.  First and second grade students who are identified as needing TAG services will participate in Talent Development until their 3rd grade year where they will have enrichment lesson, social/emotional lessons, as well as, an opportunity to do an ALPP (advanced level product and performance).

Question: What's the difference between Talent Development & TAG?

Answer: As you can see from the illustration above, ALL students who qualify to receive TAG (talent and gifted) services through RRISD are required to take the class TD (Talent Development formerly known as ISP or "Independent Student Project) per RRISD's interpretation of the State of Texas' guidelines for independent research.   

Talent Development 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.  If you are not contacted, then the committee believes at this time that your child would be more academically successful in the general education classroom with differentiation.

Question:  What scores are you looking for in order for my child to be in need of gifted services and be identified for the TAG program?

Answer:  The TAG committee looks for a preponderance of evidence that a child is in need of gifted services.  We automatically qualify students with two scores or more in either test that are in the very superior range of the bell curve (see picture above) when looking at the results of the nationally normed tests.  As it is best practice to qualify students based on local norms, we and surrounding area RRISD schools, will qualify students that have these two or more scores that are based on the same age, experience and environment.   Additionally, we look at both qualitative and quantitative evidence to support placement. 

If you're interested in learning more about ability tests in general and what they measure, you may read more about them here: 

https://www.psychometricinstitute.com.au/psychometric-test-guide/aptitude-test-guide.html 

Question:  When will  my child be retested for a subject area?  Can I refer my child again if they're not already identified for a subject? 

Answer:  There are no formal test screenings once a child is identified for needing gifted services. However, we may give additional informal assessments for additional data points with a recommendation from the homeroom teacher. 

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 once at the end of the first semester and again at the end of third quarter during the 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.   If you do not hear from the TAG placement committee, please know that they have determined that your child will be more academically successful in the general education classroom with differentiation.  

**Please note that  it is not typical that we add LA or Math services to students who qualify in grades 3-5, although we have had a few outliers in the past where we saw the need emerge, and therefore, have added services. Parents and students are notified of the additions via email at the end of the school year.    

Question:  Can you look into adding TAG Math (or LA) services for my child?  

Answer:  This is not parent initiated.  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 once at the end of the first quarter and again at the end of the third quarter 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 formal test screenings, although we may give additional informal assessments for additional data points.   Parents will be notified at the end of the school year if a decision to add services has occurred.  If you are not contacted, then the committee believes at this time that your child would be more academically successful in the general education classroom with differentiation.

Question:  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.    

Question:  But, how will you know if my student needs additional services if I don't tell you?

Answer:  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.  If you are not contacted, then the committee believes at this time that your child would be more academically successful in the general education classroom with differentiation.

Question: 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 Sommer?

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 Sommer.  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. 

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

Answer:  There are no 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.  If you are not contacted, then the committee believes at this time that your child would be more academically successful in the general education classroom with differentiation. 

Question: At the end of 2nd grade, will my child be given additional subject matter testing?  Is the subject matter testing automatic for each child in 2nd grade in TD (Talent Development)?

Answer: Per district procedures, it is automatic for ALL current TAG 2nd graders to have additional subject matter testing for possible subject placement for the following school year.