Texas Education Code 29.121 defines a gifted and talented student as “a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential of performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area, possesses an unusual capacity for leadership, or excels in a specific academic field.” 

The North Lamar Independent School District recognizes that the abilities, needs and interests of students vary greatly.  To that end, we expect that students will benefit from differentiated instructional programs that develop and challenge their unique capabilities within a framework of instructional activities that fosters creativity and productivity.  Furthermore, students who are nominated and subsequently assessed, who then meet all state and district criteria for services in the gifted and talented program, will have the opportunity to work within the district’s specialized gifted and talented curriculum.

Students in grades Kindergarten through grade 12 will have an array of learning opportunities such as, but not limited to:
 

• instructional and organizational patterns that enable students to work together as a group, to work with other students, and to work independently
• a continuum of learning experiences that leads to the development of advanced-level products and performances
• in-school, and when possible, out-of-school options relevant to the student’s area of strength that are available during the school year
• opportunities to accelerate in areas of strength

Students who participate in services designed for gifted students will demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communication 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. High school graduates who have participated in services for gifted students will have produced products and performances of professional quality as part of their program services.

Texas Gifted Education Family Network

The Gifted Education Family Network offers connection opportunities for both individual parents and for the leaders of parent groups across Texas!

Parent Support Group:  Are you an individual parent looking to connect with other parents of gifted children in Texas?  The GFEF warmly invites you to join their Parent Support Group on Facebook!  To learn more, visit the Member Support Group Interest form.. 

GEFN Parent Resource Group:  The GEFN Parent Resource Group helps parent support groups from around the state to grow their membership, to advocate for their students, and to support their families. They have observed that the #1 factor in elevating GT services in a district is GT parent advocacy.  They are available to help support parent groups with connections and resources to make that advocacy possible, and will work with groups at any stage of their journey (even if they have yet to be created).

The Resource Group meets monthly, and recent discussions have included goal setting for the new school year and current legislation affecting each district. To find out more about GEFN and our Parent Resource Group, please visit the GEFN website or email them at giftededucationfamilynetwork@gmail.com.

When trying to decide whether to refer students, parents and teachers should review research regarding characteristics of gifted children. A few characteristics to consider and usually found in combination:

▪ achievement beyond grade level

▪ in-depth understanding of ideas

▪ solves problems critically or creatively

▪ manipulates information to construct new ideas

▪ detail in presentation of an idea through any medium

▪ creative responses/ideas inside or outside the classroom

▪ interest in topics or events unusual for the age level

▪ enjoys conversing with adults

▪ keen sense of humor Students may be referred for the gifted and talented program at any time by teachers, counselors, parents, or other interested persons.

In the spring of the current school year, all kindergarten students are automatically considered for gifted/talented services. Students currently enrolled in grades 1-12 at North Lamar ISD, who are not yet identified in the GT program, may be referred by a parent and/or teacher for consideration and screening during the spring referral period. Students tested during the previous spring assessment period and who do not qualify for admittance will be eligible for referral in the following spring assessment period. Students new to the district may be referred for consideration and screening. Students, who have previously been identified as gifted students in another district, must meet the North Lamar ISD criteria presently used for Gifted and Talented screening. Upon enrollment, documentation of GT testing results must be provided to the school counselor. This documentation must include scores using at least three different testing instruments. The selection committee shall review the student’s records and conduct assessment procedures when necessary to determine if placement in the District’s program for gifted and talented students is appropriate.

The District shall provide assessment opportunities to complete the screening process for referred students at least once per school year. The District shall schedule a gifted and talented program awareness session for parents that provides an overview of the assessment procedures and services for the program prior to beginning the screening and identification process. Referred students in grades K-12, for whom parental written consent is obtained before any special testing is conducted and is on file, will be assessed and, if identified per state and local criteria, offered GT services. All student information collected during the screening and identification process shall be an educational record, subject to the protections set out in board policies at FL – Student Records. Data and procedures assure that all populations of the district have access to assessment. The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students calls for qualitative and quantitative data collected through three (3) or more measures and used to determine whether a student needs gifted/talented services. North Lamar ISD uses nationally recognized instruments for this purpose that will periodically be reviewed and updated or changed as appropriate to meet the needs of the students in the district. Students will be scheduled for and administered qualitative and quantitative measures that typically include reasoning tests, creativity tests, intelligence tests, achievement tests, and observation checklists completed by teachers. Other measures may include, but may not be limited to, teacher’s classroom observations, and student/parent conferences with the GT committee, and student work products. Assessment results are recorded on the GT student Identification Profile form by a test administrator who has the current qualifications for assessing and teaching GT students. A special GT selection committee composed of at least three (3) local district educators with current GT qualifications (according to state requirements) considers individual results and determines final identification of eligible students. Qualification in assessment measures is the standard for placing students in the GT program. These assessments are used to identify cognitive ability, creativity, reasoning aptitude, and other characteristics of gifted students. North Lamar ISD shall provide written notification to parents of students who were assessed for services. The GT teacher from each campus will notify counselors, and teachers of the student’s results. Parents of students may request a conference regarding their child’s test scores. Participation in any program or services provided for gifted students shall be voluntary, and the District shall obtain written permission from the parents before placing a student in the gifted and talented program. Once a child is identified GT, he or she will remain in the GT program, unless there is a request for removal from the program. Parents may appeal the decision of the GT selection committee according to North Lamar board policy EHBB (Local). Appeals shall be made first to the campus GT selection committee and within fifteen (15) days of receiving notification of testing results. Any subsequent appeals shall be made in accordance with FNG (Local) beginning at Level Two. If the District reassess students in the gifted and talented program, the reassessment shall be based on a student’s performance in response to services and shall occur no more than once in elementary grades, once in middle school grades, and once in high school grades.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

When a student identified as gifted by a previous school district enrolls in the District, the selection committee shall review the student’s records and conduct assessment procedures when necessary to determine if placement in the District’s program for gifted and talented services is appropriate. [See FDD(LEGAL) for information regarding transfer students and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children] A student who transfers from one campus in the District to the same grade level at another District campus shall continue to receive services in the District’s gifted and talented program.

FURLOUGH PROCEDURES

North Lamar may place on furlough any student who is unable to maintain satisfactory performance or whose educational needs are not being met within the structure of the gifted and talented program. A furlough may be initiated by the district, the parent, or the student. A committee made up of the student’s regular teacher(s), GT teacher, parents, counselor and/or principal should meet to discuss any student problems before a decision is made to furlough a student. In accordance with the Board-approved program, a furlough shall be granted for specified reasons and for a specified period of time. At the end of the furlough, the student may reenter the gifted and talented program, be placed on another furlough, or be exited from the program.

EXIT PROCEDURES

Student performance in the program shall be monitored. A student shall be removed from the program at any time a selection committee or parent determines it is in the student’s best interest. If a student or parent requests removal from the program, the selection committee shall meet with the parent and student before honoring the request. A parent, student, or educator may appeal any final decision of the selection committee regarding exit from the gifted and talented program. Appeals shall be made first to the selection committee. Any subsequent appeals shall be made in accordance with FNG(LOCAL) beginning at Level Two.

WITHDRAWN STUDENTS

When a GT student withdraws from the district, the parent or receiving school may request that the GT teacher send the student profile sheet, progress reports, and other appropriate assessment information to the new school.

Coming Soon!