Gifted & Talented Services
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The SISD Gifted and Talented department will direct educational services that identify, nurture, and challenge the abilities of gifted students to a maximum capacity, thereby expanding their potential in order for identified students to realize areas of their contribution to self and society.
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The needs of students receiving gifted and talented services are diverse and require modifications to the students’ educational setting. To address the differences in these students, SISD has chosen to expand specific program opportunities offered within the framework of the regular curriculum at all grade levels. This approach involves making specific and precise modifications to the state curriculum. Special pullout programs, independent studies, mentor programs, gifted and talented courses, Texas State Performance Projects, Pre-Advanced Placement Courses, Advanced Placement Courses, the International Baccalaureate Program and Dual Credit courses are available to gifted and talented students in the Socorro Independent School District.
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The ultimate goal of providing gifted and talented services is to develop within these students a desire for excellence and self-directed learning, thinking, research and communication and a sense of individual responsibility to the school community and the community at-large. High school graduates will have produced products and performances of professional quality as part of their program services. Gifted and talented services provide opportunities for gifted and talented students to:
- Seek original solutions to self-selected problems which reflect higher thinking processes and cognitive development,
- Develop positive self-concepts as they demonstrate consistent aptitude in advanced language arts, mathematics, social studies, sciences and other related areas,
- Develop positive self-concepts in creative and productive thinking,
- Develop heightened self-awareness and sensitivity to the needs of others, and
- Experience wider intellectual horizons, which can be pursued throughout their lives.
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The Socorro Independent School District has developed a district plan that closely follows the areas of accountability addressed in the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted and Talented Students. Included in the district plan is:
- Student Assessment: To assess students for program services with a variety of instruments and procedures to measure diverse abilities and intelligences so that they are provided with opportunities to demonstrate their talents and strengths.
- Program Design: To develop throughout the district a flexible system of viable program options that provides a learning continuum and reinforces the strengths, needs (both academic and social/emotional) and interests of gifted and talented students.
- Curriculum and Design: To provide curriculum and instruction that meets the needs of gifted and talented students by modifying the depth, complexity and pacing of the general school program. To serve middle and high school identified students in their area/s of strength, based on available testing data.
- Professional Development: To provide all personnel involved in the planning, development, and delivery of services to gifted students with staff development opportunities so they have the knowledge that will enable them to offer appropriate options and curricula for gifted and talented students.
- Family and Community Involvement: To regularly encourage community and family participation in services designed for gifted and talented students by offering a parent and community advocacy program.
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GT Identification
Due to the situation with COVID-19, Spring 2020 testing for GT was suspended. Advanced Academics and GT campus coordinators have developed a plan to complete the screening process for those students who were referred for testing. Testers have a choice to continue with the gathering of data using virtual test proctoring or may postpone testing until Spring 2021. Campus coordinators will contact families to determine the best course of action for each individual student. Thank you for your patience during this time. If you have questions, please contact Nancy Franklin, Coordinator Advanced Academics, (915) 937-1682, nfrank@sisd.net.
The new GT referral window for school year 2021 is OPEN. Students in grades K-11 are eligible for GT assessment. Gifted campus coordinators are accepting referrals for spring testing. An information video may be located below to address questions regarding the referral process. Forms for beginning the gifted referral process may be accessed below and should be submitted to the campus coordinator. Please refer to the timeline for the screening process.
Referral Packets
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Characteristic Record English
Record your student's gifted characteristics to share with the campus screening committee.
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Characteristic Record Spanish
Registre las características dotadas de su estudiante para compartirlas con el comité de selección del campus.
Referral Process Videos
To Test or Not to Test?
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Does your child exhibit these characteristics?
- Is unusually active and alert
- Learns quickly
- Shows an excellent memory
- Uses advanced vocabulary
- Engages in word play, mimicry, and storytelling
- Enjoys solving puzzles with numbers, words, and images
- Excels at improvising ways to solve problems
- Thinks in abstract, complex, insightful, and creative ways
- Responds to and demonstrates strengths in the arts
- Focuses intensely on single or varied interests at the same time
- Is highly inquisitive and asks probing questions
- Insists on doing things his or her way, yet can be loyal and modest
- Manifests deep, intense feelings and emotional reactions
- Is concerned with truth, equity, and justice
- Displays a keen sense of humor, at times better understood by adults
- Daydreams—lives in his or her own world
- Exhibits a vivid and precise imagination
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Ask yourself the following questions when deciding to have your child tested for GT services:
- Are there indicators—such as academic performance, social-emotional characteristics, or certain behaviors—that makes me suspect my child is gifted?
- Is my child not thriving or unhappy in his current learning environment?
- Does my child demonstrate giftedness, but it is not recognized because I suspect other factors (such as a learning disability, ADHD, or anxiety, for example) may be getting in the way?
If the answer is “yes” to any of the above questions, consider referring your child to your campus coordinator for testing.
Spring 2021 Referral Timeline
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- November 20, 2020 Referral Window (K-11) Referrals and Permission for those seeking GT testing due to GT Campus Coordinator
- December 18, 2020 Qualitative Data Collection (K-11) Parent Kingore Inventory and Teacher Slocumb Payne inventory due
- January/ February 2021 Quantitative Data Collection (K) Campus Coordinator collects testing data
- Febraury 26, 2021 Kindergarten Screening Deadline (K) Selection committee notifies parent/guardian results of testing; PEIMS coding changed, as applicable
- February/ March 2021 Quantitative Data Collection (1-11) Campus Coordinator collects testing data
- April 2021 Screening Committee Meeting (1-11) Selection committee meeting held; notify parent/ guardian of screening results
- August 2021 Begin GT Services (1-11) Students identified for GT will begin receiving services
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Teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, or other interested persons may refer students for Gifted and Talented services. Secondary students may choose to refer themselves. Referral forms are completed by the person who is recommending the student for gifted services and should be submitted to the GT campus coordinator.
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A screening process is used to identify students who perform at or show potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience and environment. Both quantitative and qualitative measures are used by campus screening committees to identify students for whom gifted services are most appropriate. Campus screening committees consist of at least three local district educators who have recieved training in the nature and needs of gifted students.
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Parents/ Guardians are notified in writing as to the decision made by the campus screening committee.
For students identified to receive gifted services, a permission to participate form must be signed by parent or guardian and returned to the campus coordinator before services may begin.
For students not identified to receive gifted services, a written appeal may be filed with the students' campus. Any subsequent appeals shall be made in accordance with FNG (LOCAL) beginning with Level 2.
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Students who are unable to maintain satisfactory performance within the structure of services for Gifted and Talented may be placed on furlough by the selection committee. The purpose of such a furlough is to provide the student an opportunity to attain satisfactory performance goals. A furlough may also be granted at the request of the student and/or parent.
A student furlough will extend for a period of time (not to exceed one year) deemed appropriate by the parent, student, and educators involved in the student’s instruction. At the end of the furlough, the student may again receive GT services, be removed from services, or be placed on another furlough. The state plan for gifted education limits a furlough period to one year. After one year, the GT Committee will review the case and make a decision as to the status of the student.
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Student performance within gifted services shall be monitored. A student shall be removed from services if the parent, student, and/or educator determine it is in the student’s best interest. If a student or parent requests removal, the educator involved in the student’s instruction and a campus administrator shall meet with the parent and student before honoring the request.
Decisions to exit a student from GT services may include, but are not limited to:
- Teacher recommendations based on observation of student performance;
- Counselor recommendations based on interview and observations;
- Parent requests;
- Student requests with parental permission.
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Written appeals regarding identification procedures, furloughs, and/or exiting decisions related to the GT Program may be filed by adult students, parents or guardians, or school personnel. Appeals shall be made first to the student’s campus. Any subsequent appeals shall be made in accordance with FNG (LOCAL) beginning with Level 2.
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Students new to Socorro ISD are eligible for GT services based on verification of previous qualification in the Gifted and Talented program from another district. GT documentation will be included in the Request for Records by the campus attendance clerk. Upon receipt of qualifying records, GT campus coordinators will verify and provide a Permission to Participate form to parent/ guardian. Once permission has been received, services will begin.
Students from within Socorro ISD who are identified for the Gifted and Talented program will continue to receive GT services if they are moved to another campus.