Carroll Independent School District Gifted Programs

The Carroll Independent School District’s gifted and talented services are available to students in grades K-12.  The array of services is designed to meet the diverse needs of the gifted population.  Gifted program options enable gifted students to work together as a group, work with other students, and work independently.  Flexible pacing and grouping patterns as well as independent investigations are some of the strategies used to allow students to learn at a pace and level appropriate for the students’ abilities and skills.

Dr. Donald Treffinger’s Levels of Service Model and Dr. George Betts’ Autonomous Learner Model of the Gifted and Talented are the framework for the Carroll Independent School District’s Gifted Program.

Gifted Program Mission Statement

To provide an educational environment that recognizes the unique intellectual, academic, and social and emotional needs and talents of gifted students.

Gifted Program Philosophy

We believe special provisions should be provided to accommodate the needs of gifted and talented students in all educational situations and settings that may be appropriate.  Gifted and talented education may be categorized as accelerated and/or enriched.

Carroll ISD Definition of a Gifted Student

A gifted student is one who performs at or has the potential of performing at a significantly high level of accomplishment in comparison to others of the same age, experience, and/or environment in one or more of the following areas:

• Intellectual.  Superior intellectual ability as commonly measured by standardized measures of intelligence and aptitude
• Creative.  Unusual ability to use original or nontraditional methods of thinking and producing
• Artistic.  Outstanding ability in the visual and/or performing arts
• Leadership.  High ability in motivating the performance of others either in educational or non-educational settings
• Specific academic ability.  High academic ability in one or more specific academic fields

This performance or potential for performance is so pronounced that the student requires differentiated and/or accelerated instruction or services beyond those provided in the regular school program.  Gifted students are found in all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.

Referrals

Students in grades K- 12 must be referred during the district designated referral periods.  A parent, teacher, community member or student may submit a referral.

2010-2011 Referral Periods

November 29 - December 10 - ONLY for Kindergarten students
March 21 – April 1, 2011 - OPEN referral for any Carroll ISD student

• Kindergarten Referral
• Elementary 1-4 Spring Referral Form
• GT Referral Grades 5-12 Form  

Identification

Assessment:  Placement in the Carroll ISD Gifted Program is determined by a district Gifted Program screening committee.  Measures used for identification include some or all of the following measures:

• Aptitude test
• Achievement test
• Teacher/Parent Scales
• Student performance activities

Students must meet or exceed the minimum criteria set by Carroll ISD to be recommended for placement in the Gifted Program.  Parents will be notified of the placement decision by U.S. mail.

Kindergarten:  All kindergarten students receive weekly instruction from the campus Gifted Specialist in their home classrooms.  Students are formally identified for the K-6 gifted program, Quest, during the second semester.

Provisional Placement

Provisional placement is for students new to Carroll ISD who have been identified as gifted in another school district.  Parents of these students must provide the following evidence before provisional placement is considered:

• Report cards
• Standardized test scores in aptitude and achievement
• Evidence of participation in a gifted program

Students who are provisionally placed in the Carroll ISD Gifted Program must meet the district criteria for placement to remain in the program.

• Download Provisional Placement form >

Carroll ISD Gifted Services

Level I services include opportunities for all Carroll ISD students to receive differentiated instruction and learn higher level thinking skills, creative and critical thinking, and problem solving.

Level II services include opportunities for most Carroll ISD students to access the Renzulli Learning System, to pursue projects in his/her interest areas, and to participate in some advanced level activities.

Level III services are provided for identified gifted students. 
    In Grades K-6 these services are provided in a pull-out format called Quest, and through differentiated instruction in their regular classroom. Identified gifted students are cluster grouped in their regular classroom. The GT Specialist on each campus is available as a resource to all teachers and students.
     In Grades 7 – 12, identified gifted students may choose to participate in specially designated GT content specific courses or in Pre-AP and AP courses.

Level IV services are provided for profoundly gifted students and are tailored to meet the specific needs of each profoundly gifted student.

Level III Curriculum

    The K-6 gifted program Level III curriculum is delivered through multi-dimensional units within the four core subject areas of language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.  Central to this integrated academic approach is the ongoing development of critical and creative thinking skills and problem solving. 
    The 7-12 gifted program Level III curriculum is delivered through content-specific courses for identified gifted students.

     Middle School GT Language Arts

Curriculum for identified gifted students participating in Level III services has the following attributes:

• Is interdisciplinary
• Is appropriate for the advanced learner
• Incorporates the opportunity to develop students’ creative and critical thinking skills
• Focuses on real world challenges
• Requires the use of diverse resources including technology
• Permits students to choose topics that are of particular interest to them

Gifted Program Staff

District K-12 Gifted Program Coordinator   


Elementary School Gifted Specialists:

Intermediate School Gifted Specialists: 
 

Middle School Gifted Specialists:

          
High School Gifted Specialists:

Helpful Links

Texas Association for Gifted and Talented (TAGT)
www.txgifted.org

Southlake Association for Gifted and Talented (SAGT)
www.southlakespace.com/

National Association for Gifted and Talented (NAGC)
www.nagc.org

Hoagies – resources, articles, books, links for parents about gifted children
www.hoagiesgifted.org

Duke Talent Search
www.tip.duke.edu

Texas Education Agency (TEA) sites for exceptional students
www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=3822

Niemen Center
http://connections.smsd.org/nieman/el/classroo.htm

Special populations – underachieving gifted
www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/underachieving_gifted.html

College Board
www.collegeboard.com

Davidson Institute for Talent Development
www.ditd.org

Dr. Bertie Kingore’s articles for parents
www.bertiekingore.com/articlespar.htm

Academic Leagues
www.academicleagues.com