TAG Services Information

**************************** ANNOUNCEMENT ******************************
The TAG referral period is open from November 16 to December 3.  If you would 
like to refer your child for TAG services, please visit the RRISD website to 
download and print a copy of the TAG information packet.  You can access that 
site by going to my Links page and clicking on TAG Referral Packet.

Please fill out the last two pages ( Student Referral form and Permission 
to Test form) and return it to your child's classroom teacher or the front 
office by December 3, 2009.  A limited number of packets will be available in 
the front office.

 
  
If your child has transferred to RRISD and was 
served in a gifted program in their prior school, please contact Mrs. 
Lisauckis regarding eligibility for TAG testing.


OVERVIEW
The Round Rock ISD Programs for Talented and Gifted (TAG) students provide 
instructional opportunities and other services designed to meet the unique 
needs of students with significantly advanced general intellectual ability 
and/or specific subject matter aptitude in language arts, science, social 
studies and/or mathematics.  These programs shall provide an appropriately 
differentiated curriculum and ensure that students are instructed in all 
essential elements and demonstrate and acceptable degree of mastery.  As 
needed, the programs will modify delivery of instruction for students by 
accelerating and/or providing greater depth, more complex content, and 
enrichment activities.  TAG classes and/or services are available in 
kindergarten - 12th grades.  Teachers serving identified TAG students have 
met the state requirements necessary for assignment of gifted and talented 
students.

REFERRAL
Through an open and on-going referral system, efforts are made to secure 
referrals from any person familiar with a student's abilities, potential 
performance, and/or past performance.  Students may be referred by one of 
the following:  parent, guardian, student, principal, counselor, teacher, 
librarian, administrator, community member, psychologist.

CAMPUSES PROVIDE AN ANNUAL FALL ORIENTATION SESSION FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING 
REFERRAL OF STUDENTS FOR THE TAG PROGRAM.

                        Annual TAG Testing Timeline

JULY     Assessment/testing for students entering grades 1-12 who moved into 
         the district after the April 30th transfer student testing deadline
         for August placement.

ONGOING  Assessment/testing for students in grades 1-12 transferring into the
         district from another gifted program (with written documentation).

NOV.     Referrals submitted to the campuses for January testing for 
         students currently enrolled in grades K-11.
         
         THE REFERRAL PERIOD IS NOV.17 THROUGH DEC.3.
         PARENTS MAY PICK UP INFORMATION PACKETS AND RETURN COMPLETED FORMS 
         TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE DURING THIS TIME.



JAN.     Assessment/testing for students currently enrolled in grades K-11.

APRIL 30 Deadline for assessment/testing for students in grades 1-12 trans-
         ferring into the district from another gifted program.

MAY 1    Deadline for mailing parent notification of assessment results for 
         spring placement of students in kindergarten and August placement  
         of students in grades 1-11 who tested in January.

                        ***TRANSFER STUDENTS***
If your child has transferred to RRISD this school year (2009 / 10) and was 
served in a gifted program in their prior school, please contact Mrs. 
Lisauckis regarding eligibility for TAG testing.

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                      PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

*THINKING SKILLS:  Gifted and talented students will develop their abilities 
in higher level, more complex thinking skills including critical, creative, 
and productive thinking activities that are extensions of the regular 
curriculum.

*SUBJECT MATTER KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:  Gifted and talented students will 
study advanced-level content and master the major concepts, skills, and 
processes of specific disciplines in which they demonstrate ability.

*RESEARCH AND INDEPENDENT STUDY SKILLS:  Gifted and talented students will 
develop the skills necessary for self-directed learning, conduct independent 
studies, research projects, and extend the regular curriculum to produce 
advanced-level products.

*SELF-CONCEPT AND LEADERSHIP:  Gifted and talented students will gain an 
understanding and respect for each person's abilities, recognizing the 
similarities and differences between themselves and others, and will develop 
their own unique abilities for the betterment of both themselves and others.

VISION STATEMENT
"The Round Rock Talented and Gifted Program will provide an environment 
where each gifted student's unique learning, social, and emotional needs are 
recognized and responded to by informed, capable individuals/"

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CHARACTERISTICS OF GIFTED CHILDREN:

*Verbal Proficiency
*Power of Abstraction
*Intellectual Curiosity
*Retentiveness/Power of Concentration
*Independence/Goal Directed
*Power of Critical Thinking
*Sensitivity/Intuitiveness

(Please note that a student won't necessarily have all of these 
characteristics, but will have a majority.)

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN REFERRING:

*Maturity of child (especially primary)
*Learning style of child (self-directed, able to handle open-ended tasks and
     long range planning.
*Length of testing (especially for younger children, 6-8 hour process)
*Nationally-normed test scores are valid for 2 years