Assessment of Academic Giftedness

Tyler Independent School District nominations for assessment of giftedness begin in January 2010. If you would like to nominate a TISD student for assessment of academic giftedness, please complete the forms below. All forms must be completed and returned to the student’s teacher by the end of January. If you have any questions about this process, please contact your child’s teacher, your campus principal, or the Office of Advanced Academics.

Announcement of GT Nominations

Announcement of GT Nominations - Spanish

Prior to Nomination for Assessment

We are often asked how to know if a child should be nominated for assessment of academic giftedness. Many people confuse gifted students with high achieving students. The following links contain information useful in understanding the differences between gifted and high achieving students. Additional information about giftedness is available in Step 5, Section B.

Differences in Gifted and High Achieving Students

Estudiantes con Altos Logros y con Talento

Step 1: Nomination Form

Nomination forms for assessment of giftedness may be completed by anyone who wishes to nominate a TISD student, including parents, other relatives, teachers, principals, counselors, district administrators, the student, and others. Completed nomination forms should be taken to the student’s teacher.

Application and Nomination Form

La Aplicación y Nominación

Step 2: Permission to Test

Parents must complete the following form to give consent for the student to be tested and to ride the school bus to testing areas if necessary. The form should be returned to the student’s teacher.

Permission to Test/Ride Bus

Permiso Para El Transporte y Para Ser Examinado

Step 3: Parent Information

In order to better understand your child, we ask that parents complete a Kingore Observation Inventory (KOI) for Parents. This packet contains questions about gifted characteristics that your child might display. It is important that you complete the form for the correct grade level in order to gauge age-appropriate behaviors. The packet should be returned to the student’s teacher.

Kingore Observation Inventory for Parents K-3

Kingore Observation Inventory for Parents 4-8

Planilla de Información de los Padres K-3

Planilla de Información de los Padres 4-8

While the Office of Advanced Academics prefers that all parents complete the detailed KOI Parent information packet, we understand that some parents prefer shorter forms. You may choose to complete either the KOI or the Parent Checklist. We need only one form per student.

Optional Short Form for Parents K-3

Optional Short Form for Parents 4-8

La Forma Cortita Opcional para los Padres K-3

La Forma Cortita Opcional para los Padres 4-8

Step 4: Optional Product Sample

Parents may choose to submit a sample of their child’s work which exhibits a particular area of their child’s academic strengths or interests. Examples include stories, art, musical compositions or performances, and other projects. Parents may submit only one piece of work, and it must fit into a file folder. The work will not be returned. Parents are encouraged to submit a copy of the work, a CD, or a photograph instead of the original work. Please do not submit worksheets from class as this type of product reveals very little information about your child’s gifts. For examples and explanations of good types of product submissions, see the link below. Please remember that this step is optional. Product samples should be clearly labeled with the child’s name, grade level, and school, and should be given to the child’s teacher.

Product Examples and Ideas

Ejemplos de Obras

Step 5: Teacher Information

In order to get a complete picture of a child’s academic abilities, we gather information from the classroom teacher. Below are links to be used by the classroom teacher.

Data Review Sheet– Fill out one per student. Fill out your portion and place the form in student’s colored GT nomination folder along with all other documents from Steps 1-4. Complete all parts of the rubric down to the “Campus Stage I Committee” section. Please be sure to mark whether the student needs to be tested in Spanish.

Kindergarten Talent Pool Identification Data Review (fill out one for each nominated Kindergarten student)

Gifted Identification Data Review for Grades 1-12 (fill out one for each nominated 1-12 student)

Teacher Observations – Fill out one Kingore Observation Inventory form for each class you teach. Complete the scoring form page and transfer the results (score of 1-4) to the data review sheet for each nominated student. You retain your copy of the KOI (no need to copy for the student’s folder).

Teacher Kingore Observation Inventory for Grades K-3

Teacher Kingore Observation Inventory for Grades 4-8

KOI Scoring Form

Kindergarten Screening – Kindergarten students follow a different process in screening because we are screening for Talent Pool. After identifying kindergarten students with high academic potential, we serve these Talent Pool students in the regular kindergarten and first grade classroom through the Wonders and Patterns differentiated curriculum before they are tested for full identification of giftedness at midterm in first grade or later.

Kindergarten Screening Sequence & Curriculum

Step 6: Stage One Screening

As soon as Steps 1-5 are completed, the campus Gifted and Talented (GT) Committee will complete Stage One screening. All Stage One screening must be completed by the end of January 2010. As each child completes Stage One screening, the child’s nomination folder will be transferred to the Office of Advanced Academics.

In Stage One Screening, the GT Committee reviews of all Steps 1-5 documentation in the student’s folder and gathers any missing information.

The 1^st-12^th grade data review sheet is considered complete up to this point if it contains:

School name, student ID, date
A “yes” or “no” indication on bilingual
Completed name, date of birth, ethnicity, grade, parent name, phone number, complete mailing address, zip code
Nagleri & CogAT scores (if available)
Grade average for last three semesters
Teacher KOI rating
Parent Observation marked with plus if received
Signatures of GT Committee (including at least one campus administrator)
Checked either “Advances to Stage II” or “Does Not Qualify”

The Kindergarten data review sheet is considered complete up to this point if it contains:

School name, student ID, date
A “yes” or “no” indication on bilingual
Completed name, date of birth, ethnicity, grade, parent name, phone number, complete mailing address, zip code
Progress in kindergarten noted
Teacher KOI rating
Parent Information marked with plus if returned
Signatures of GT Committee (including at least one campus administrator)
Checked either “Advances to Stage II” or “Does Not Qualify”

Step 7: Stage Two Screening

Once the Campus Committee has checked “Advances to Stage II” or “Does Not Qualify,” the student’s folder will be transferred to the Office of Advanced Academics for further review. Parents will receive a letter from the Office of Advanced Studies to notify them of their child’s status. If the student does not qualify for Stage Two screening, the student may be nominated for testing again next year if so desired.

Students who advance to Stage Two screening will take district tests of achievement and creativity. If a student in 1^st-12^th grade meets the requirements set forth by the district, he or she will be identified as gifted and will be eligible to participate in gifted services in the fall. Kindergarten students identified as having high academic potential will be provided with the Wonders and Patterns differentiated curriculum in their regular kindergarten and first grade classroom until they are nominated for full gifted testing after midterm of first grade or later.