Student Review Committee should also consider student history of ability and achievement scores when current percentiles are not comparable to other data submitted. The committee may also use any of the following information to assist members in making appropriate placement decisions:

• Success in a similar educational program in a previous school;
• SAT and ACT scores from Duke Talent Search and results from High School administration of SAT and ACT;
• Record of outstanding achievement in prerequisite course;
• Additional current  information obtained from outside the school district provided by parents or other school districts the student has attended;
• Other pertinent information as determined by the committee.

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Placement Decision             

Educational Decision for Placement in Services for Gifted/Talented Students

• Target Score: Evidence of 4 out of 6 criteria (two of which are from Standardized Test Data in one or more of the four core academic areas will result in recommendation for placement in Services for Gifted/Talented Students.
• Less than Target Score: Evidence of 4 out of 6 criteria (with only one from Standardized Test Data) may result in recommendation for placement, if in the judgment of the committee, there is a strong body of evidence to support the decision, and the Gifted and Talented Program is the most appropriate educational setting to meet the student’s needs.
• For students transferring from a G/T program in another school district, it should be assumed that criteria 1-3 have been satisfied in the previous school. Remaining data should be collected and reviewed prior to making a placement decision. If quantitative data is incomplete or incompatible with district criteria, additional testing should occur and a committee decision should be made within 6 weeks.

Once identified, placement of students will be made only after written permission from parent or guardian is received. 

*When making educational placement decisions, the Gifted and Talented Student Review Committee should place more emphasis on the total body of collected student data rather than adhering to specific “cut off ”scores.

If there is insufficient data submitted for a student, the Student Review Committee must record on the Committee Decision form that more information is needed before a decision can be made. It is the committee’s responsibility to collect that data, including additional testing results if needed,  in a timely manner and reconvene the committee for a placement decision.

NOTE FOR SRC
Students may be identified as specific academically gifted in one or more of the subject areas: language arts, science, math or social studies. These students should demonstrate excellent achievement and performance in the areas in which they are identified and participate in services for gifted in these areas. (Reported to PEIMS)

Students may be identified as intellectually gifted when they demonstrate mental abilities in the superior range and characteristics typical of giftedness that indicate potential for success in all subject areas. These students may participate in services for gifted students in all subject areas. (Reported to PEIMS)

Transfer Students
GT2 TAC  89.1 (5)  

Transfer students from other districts who have been identified and served in a similar gifted and talented program will be reviewed by the Gifted and Talented Review Committee.  Placement decisions will be made within 30 days of student’s enrollment. (See EHBB LOCAL)

It will be assumed that these students have credit for the three educational criteria: classroom grades, gifted and talented behavioral characteristics and student products from previous school. If quantitative data is compatible with district’s criteria, additional assessment may not be necessary. However, if quantitative data is incomplete or incompatible with district criteria, additional testing should occur prior to committee placement decision.

Participation in Services      

Once identified, the student’s parent/guardian will be notified and provided with a permission for placement form. Placement of students in Services for Gifted andTalented Students will be made only after receiving permission to place from the parent or guardian.

Once identified and placed, students may participate in the Services for Gifted and Talented Students as long as they are enrolled in the district. Upon receipt of original parent permission for placement, the student will remain in the program unless a written request by the parent/guardian is submitted to withdraw the student or to place the student on furlough. In grades 9-12, the student may complete the furlough form but furlough request must be copied and mailed to parent.

Appeal Process
GT2 19 TAC 89.1 (5)

A parent or professional staff member who desires to appeal an identification or placement decision made by the campus Student Review Committee may do so in the following manner
                  .
LEVEL 1 APPEAL:

• Submit an appeal letter to the campus principal and Student Review Committee requesting that the decision be reconsidered.
• Submit additional information that might be considered as part of the decision, such as:
  • examples of student work , awards or historical educational data
  • other test data from outside the school district by a professional educational psychologist; and/ or other pertinent information considered appropriate.
• After the committee receives the appeal notice, they will review the decision and additional information submitted, and respond to the person making the appeal within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the appeal letter.
• If the committee decides that the Services for Gifted and Talented Students is the most appropriate educational consideration, placement in the program will be made at the most appropriate time to ensure student success in the gifted education classes. This may be at the beginning of the next school year.

Note: When making the best professional identification/placement decision, the committee may consider all additional information submitted. An appeal letter from parent/guardian must be on file prior to a final decision.

LEVEL II APPEAL:

If a resolution is not reached at the campus level, second level appeals should be addressed in writing to the Director of Services for Gifted and Talented Students. A district Appeals Review Committee will decide second level appeals.

Furlough
GT 2 19 TAC 89.1 (5)

A parent/guardian (K-12) and student (9-12) may request a student furlough (cessation of participation in all gifted and talented services) for personal reasons. Furloughs are not intended for program removal of students who are performing below expectations. In grades 9-12, the student may request and complete the furlough form, but the parent/guardian must be notified by mail.

If a student is furloughed from all services provided for gifted and talented students at his/her grade levels, he/she will not be counted on PEIMS as being served during the furlough period. Services for gifted are considered to be the following:

• K-5 cluster class
• K-2 G/T “pull-out” classes for math and interdisciplinary research and communication
• Grades 3-5 daily G/T advanced mathematics by G/T facilitators
• Grades 3-5 “pull-out” for interdisciplinary research and communication
• Grades 6-9 specifically designated G/T advanced mathematics classes
• Grade 8 specifically designated GT State Performance Standards Keystone Science
• Grades 6-10 pre-AP G/T cluster classes
• Grade 11-12  Advanced Placement G/T cluster classes
• Grades 9-12 GT State Performance Standards Capstone independent studies classes specifically designated for gifted
• Early graduation
• Dual college/high school credit
• Approved distance learning for advanced studies

To obtain a student furlough, a furlough form must be requested from the campus counselor, completed and submitted to the counselor. The furlough is filed in the student’s placement file and copied to his/her cumulative folder.

Furloughed students may reenter gifted and talented services at appropriate course times if parents/students submit written notification of intent to counselor. Written notification is filed in the student’s placement file and copied to his/her cumulative folder.

For more information about services for gifted and talented students or enrollment information, please contact:

Sharon Hesser
Gifted/Talented Program Director
Georgetown Independent School District
603 Lakeway Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628
(512) 943-5000 x. 3703