Gifted and Talented Services

GT Identification

The GT referral window opens each school year in November. Students in grades K-11 are eligible for GT assessment.

Referrals and parent permission for gifted testing must be submitted online using the provided link. Collection of placement data will begin in December. Please refer to the timeline for the placement process.

To Test or Not to Test?

If the answer is “yes” to any of the above questions, consider referring your child to your campus coordinator for testing.

School Year GT Placement Timeline

October: Universal Screener (2)

  • All second graders in Socorro ISD participate in GT screener testing.

November:  Referral Window (K-11)

  • Referrals and Permission to Test for those seeking GT placement are due no later than the Friday before Thanksgiving.

December:  Data Collection (K-11)

  • Qualitative data collected; Creative Thinking test proctored.

January/February:  Data Collection (K-11)

  • Cognitive Thinking test proctored.

February: Placement Committee Meeting (K-11)

  • Campus committee meeting held; parent/guardian notified of committee placement decision; PEIMS coding changed, as applicable.

Gifted Service Design

A flexible system of viable options that provide a learning continuum is developed throughout the district and reinforces the strengths, needs and interests of gifted and talented students.

SISD practices site-based management. Site-based management allows each school to make decisions about the best way to serve their unique populations. Each school recognizes the importance of serving GT students as a group, allowing GT students to work with other students, and giving GT students the opportunity to work independently.

Differentiated Curriculum and Instruction Methods

Special consideration and planning are given to curriculum and instructional delivery for GT students in the Socorro Independent School District. Adjustments to the level, pace, complexity and depth of learning for GT students are planned and implemented in grades K-12. Changes to the processes in which GT children learn allow teachers to work as facilitators in the education of GT students and allow students to become active seekers of knowledge.

Curriculum and instructional delivery methods that are differentiated include independent and/or research projects, simulation studies, learning centers both in and out of the classroom, compacted studies, and student-selected studies. Teachers employ the use of pre-testing and post-testing to determine student readiness and mastery of material in order to offer alternative choices for acceleration and enrichment.

Critical and creative thinking strategies are practiced in classrooms via investigations, questioning strategies, and active discussions. Independent studies, research, and authentic projects and products are all part of the curricular strategies implemented in the Socorro Independent School District. The Socorro Independent School District utilizes the Texas Performance Standards Projects and/or other approved projects at all grade levels.

Additional Opportunities

GT campus coordinators may register their GT students in the regional Team Quest competition hosted by Adventures in Learning.  For more information about this academic competition opportunity, visit the Adventures in Learning website.

Gifted & Talented 30 Hour Core Training

The GT core training consists of five 6-hour courses.  Teachers must complete the 30 hours by the end of the first semester of teaching to be in compliance with the state plan. Core 1 and 2 are non-negotiable courses and must be completed in their presented form.  Core 3-5 may be substituted with approved trainings for programs used in providing services to GT students in Socorro ISD.

For more information email Nancy Franklin.

Required 30 Hour Core Training

Core 1: Nature & Needs of Gifted Learners
An introductory course providing an overview of the characteristics and unique needs of students with high academic ability. Sections tailored specifically to include programming options and affective needs.

Core 2: Identification & Assessment of Gifted Learners
How does a school system decide what "gifted" is? Are there different types of "gifted"? How do we make sure we are finding all the hidden gems?

Core 3: Differentiation for Advanced Students
The importance of differentiated instruction in meeting the needs of every student cannot be overstated. This course dives deeply into what that means for gifted students.

Core 4: Creativity & Instructional Strategies in the Classroom
What is creativity and how do we develop it in ourselves and our students? This course provides teachers with the knowledge and skills to nurture creativity in their students.

Core 5: Introduction to Depth & Complexity
This course will provide teachers with the knowledge and practice to get started using the depth and complexity thinking prompts to help develop higher levels of thinking in all of your students.

Access Core Training Online through Eduphoria Strive

Courses for the GT core training are offered as eCourses on Eduphoria Strive. Search keywords "GT Core" to enroll.

These courses are offered to district employees without charge.

Core 3 - 5 Alternatives

Teachers may substitute up to 18 hours of the following courses for Core 3 - 5. Certificates of completion must be submitted for credit to be awarded.

  • Project Lead the Way (PLTW)

  • National Math and Science Institute (NMSI)

  • AP Summer Institute

  • IB Summer Institute

  • Springboard Training