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At all grade levels, the goals are to:
- Develop advanced research methods and independent learning Generate new ideas and products Develop higher order and critical thinking skills
- Develop advanced communication skills
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Elementary students receive gifted services one day per week in a resource class. The student attends the gifted resource class at his/her home school.
- Elementary class size is limited to 17 studentsProgram includes challenging interdisciplinary units which are grounded in science and social studies While the student participates in the gifted resource class, assignments in general education classes are modified or eliminated depending on the student’s academic strength.
- Continuation criteria include satisfactory performance in both the regular education and TAG classrooms as determined by the school.
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Most Frequently Asked Questions at the Local (Elementary) Level: |
Can my child be tested before the start of the school year?
- No, TAG teachers will begin the school year by completing the automatic screening process. (See Referral and Testing Procedures) Teachers are not contracted during the summer to administer tests for gifted services.
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Can parents refer their children for TAG testing?
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No. The Fulton County School System has a set process for screening all students twice a year for eligibility for gifted services. (See Referral and Testing Procedures). Trained professionals review test scores, screen students for superior abilities in areas on the Characteristics Instrument for Screening Students (“CISS” form) and review classroom placement levels in language arts and math to help determine referrals for TAG testing.
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My child was in a TAG program in another school. Will he/she automatically be placed into the TAG program at this school?
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If a student was in a TAG program in another Georgia public school, he/she will automatically be placed into the TAG program, AS SOON AS we receive documentation from the child’s former Georgia school showing evidence of gifted placement/services. It is the parents’ responsibility to obtain this documentation and forward it to our Gifted Department. If a student was in a gifted program outside the state of Georgia, it is the parents’ responsibility to obtain all gifted information from the previous school attended. Most important to obtain is documentation of mental ability testing (“IQ” scores), creativity testing, and any other testing completed to determine eligibility for gifted services. This information will help determine if the student is automatically eligible for services, eligible for testing, or ineligible for services.
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My child makes straight A s in school and is placed in above level math and language arts groups. Why isn’t he/she considered gifted?
- Students must qualify for eligibility into the TAG program using the Multiple Criteria Process.
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Is the TAG program ever considered “full”?
- No. Every student who qualifies for the TAG program will be served within a timeframe specified by the TAG department.
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Students at the elementary level are served in a one day a week, pull-out resource model. What are the chances my child will fall behind in the regular education program/
- Regular education classes do carry on as they normally would regardless of students attending additional education classes. Students are expected to complete homework assignments given on their TAG day. This provides a review opportunity for work covered in class during the student’s TAG day. Academic instruction does continue at the normal pacing and may be inclusive of the introduction of new information and material.
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Why does it appear that some students are tested more frequently than others? I’ve heard that test scores are valid for a period of two years.
- Mental ability (“IQ”) and Creativity scores are considered valid for a period of two years. However, achievement test scores can change from year to year depending on the whether an achievement test is scheduled to be administered at your child’s grade level, and, motivation information can change if your child’s reading and math levels change and need to be updated.
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Referral and Testing Procedures at the Elementary LevelI:
Automatic Screening – At the beginning of the school year, TAG teachers review previous year’s test scores.
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Standardized Tests – Students (3-5) must have a minimum of an 85th percentile and a 90th percentile in at least one of the following areas: Total Reading, Total Math, or Complete Battery. Criterion-Referenced Competency Test – Students must have performed at the minimum levels of 860+on the Reading section or 366 (grades 4th and 5th) or 862 (Grades 2nd and 3rd) on the Math section. This represents the top 20 percent when compared to all other students in the system.
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K-1 students must be identified (using documented testing materials) that they have scored at least an 85% on the Reading/Language Arts and Math Acceleration Assessments.
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II. Classroom Screening – Local schools select a two week period in the late fall to screen all students in their schools
- Classroom teachers use the Characteristics Instrument for Screening Students (CISS) to identify students with superior abilities in five of more of the following areas: motivation, interests, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, memory, inquiry, insight, reasoning, creativity, and humor.
III. Supporting Data - Students meeting either the Automatic Screening OR Classroom Screening criteria AND have supporting data gathered from test history, products and/or advanced content levels** are referred for gifted testing.
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Advanced Level Placement Guidelines (Must meet all criteria listed below):
- Math: CRCT Mathematics Level 3Average 50% or above on grade level Mathematics Unit Pretests
Mathematics 18 and 36 Week Assessments, 90%+ Unit Performance Assessments (Exceeds 50%+on rubric)Reading/Language Arts : CRCT Reading and ELA Level 3Exceeds 50% or above on grade level Performance Assessments on rubric dimensions, 18 and 36 weeks
- Oral Reading Fluency Assessment (Exceeds previous grade level expectations)
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Once referred for testing:
- Parent receives Parent Notification for Testing Consent Form Student tests for the gifted program (results may take several weeks to be received) Parent receives test results
- It state eligibility is determined, and parents consent to placement, students are placed into the TAG program.
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Georgia Eligibility Criteria for TAG: State Board Rule 160-4-2.38 states: “The Georgia State Board of Education defines a gifted student as one who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual and/or creative ability(ies), exhibits an exceptionally high degree of motivation, and/or excels in specific academic fields, and who needs special instruction and/or special services to achieve at levels commensurate with his or her abilities.”
- Information shall be gathered in each of the four categories (Mental Ability, Achievement, Creativity, and Motivation) At least one of the criteria must be met be a score on a nationally normed test. Any data used to establish eligibility in one category should not be used to establish eligibility in another category. Any piece of information used to establish eligibility shall be current within two years. The Talented and Gifted Program will only administer standardized mental ability and creativity tests once every two years.
- Data gathered and analyzed by a source outside the school system shall be used only in the Mental Ability category. It shall be supported my two of the three remaining categories. One of the three remaining categories must be a nationally normed test.
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Procedure One – Students must qualify in three of the four categories:
- Mental Ability – 96th or higher percentile composite OR appropriate component score on a nationally normed mental ability (IQ) test. Achievement – 90th or higher percentile Total Reading, Total Math, or Complete Battery/Composite on a nationally normed achievement test OR above level continuous achievement level as determined by the system Creativity – 90th or higher percentile composite score on a standardized test of creative thinking (Torrence Test of Creative Thinking “TTCT”) Motivation – 90%+ on the MRS Ratings Scale Procedure Two – Students must have a qualifying score in the mental ability AND achievement categories: Mental Ability - K-2 – 99th percentile composite score on a standardized mental ability test. Grades 3-5 – 96th percentile composite score on a standardized mental ability test.
- Achievement – 90th or higher percentile in Total Reading, Total Math, or Complete Battery/Composite on a nationally normed achievement test.
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