Gifted & Talented Parent Meeting

Ryder Warren, SuperintendentMidland Independent School District

Meeting Purpose

Evaluation of MISD G/T Services and Carver Center

Issue #1 – STAAR Testing

Student Application: Class of 2015

History of Testing in Texas

TABS (1980 – 1985)TEAMS (1986 – 1990)TAAS (1990-2002)TAKS (2003 – current)STAAR (2011 - ??)

Why The Change in Testing?

House Bill 3

“…by the 2019 – 2020 school year, Texas is to ….become one of the top 10 states for graduating college-ready students.”*

*TEA HB3 Transition Plan – Executive Summary

Why The Change in Testing?

TEA goals“performance expectations…raise the bar…”

“…12 end-of-course (EOC) assessments…linked to college and career readiness”

“…3-8 tests will be linked…to performance standards for Alg II and Eng III assessments”

*TEA HB3 Transition Plan – Executive Summary

STAAR Focus

More focusMore clarityMore depth

Application for Students

Assessment for:Success in subsequent gradesSuccess in subsequent coursesCollege-readinessCareer-readinessHigher cognitive complexity

Sample Test Questions

TABS

Sample Test Questions

STAAR

Student Testing Requirements

Grade Level Reading or ELA

Writing Math Science Social Studies

3rd X X

4th X X X

5th X X X

6th X X

7th X X X

8th X X X X

Grades 3-8

Student Testing Requirements

Language Arts Math Science Social StudiesEnglish I Algebra I Biology World Geography

English II Geometry Chemistry World History

English III* Algebra II* Physics U.S. History

High School*

*based upon individual graduation plan

Issue #2 – MISD Student Academic Progress

TAKS to STAAR

Correlation of Passing Standards

TAKS Commended Performance vs. STAAR Minimum StandardsMISD G/T Reading

3rd Grade: 93%

4th Grade: 81%

5th Grade: 86%

6th Grade: 96%

MISD G/T Math3rd Grade: 81%

4th Grade: 83%

5th Grade: 97%

6th Grade: 94%

Commended Performance vs. Minimum Standards (cont.)MISD G/T Writing

4th Grade: 75%

MISD G/T Science

5th Grade: 93%

Advanced Placement PerformanceMISD G/T Goal = AP Score of 3 or Better

(preferably 4 or 5)

Last Testing Participation: 743 AP exams taken by MISD G/T students

33 – “5” scores90 – “4” scores191 – “3” scores = 314 Achieved Goal214 – “2” scores215 – “1” scores = 429 Below Standard

National Merit Scholarship Qualifiers

Number of MISD G/T Finalists & National Scholarship Winners

2006-07 = 1 student / 1 winner2007-08 = 8 students / 1 winner2008-09 = 1 student / 0 winners2009-10 = 2 students / 0 winners

12 Finalists in 4 Academic Years2 Scholarship Winners in 4 Academic Years

Program Information, Questions, and Answers

Current Elementary G/T Program DesignGifted Education Midland (GEM): • Students identified for gifted and talented services in grades 4 – 6 • Two (2) days per week of accelerated, complex, interdisciplinary instruction that explores content in greater depth than that provided by the regular curriculum • Services provided through Gifted Education Midland (GEM) housed at the Carver Center campus • Services begin no later than the second Monday of the fall semester.

GEM Center at Carver(Gifted Education Midland)

1300 E. Wall St.Midland, Texas 79701

Proposed Elementary G/T Program Design

Gifted Education Midland (GEM): Grades 2 – 6 students identified for G/T Services• Students identified for grades 2 – 6 will be served at Carver Center: five (5) days of accelerated, complex, interdisciplinary instruction that explores content in greater depth and complexity and faster pacing than that provided by the regular curriculum. •GEM services begin no later than the first day of the fall semester.

Proposed Elementary G/T Program Design

Project THINK and QUEST (PT/QUEST) Grades K – 1: • QUEST: Students identified for gifted and talented services in grades K-1• Project THINK: Students determined through the G/T Services assessment to be in the top 20% of the campus• PT/QUEST services are provided on the home campuses. • PT/QUEST grade 1 services begin no later than the day after Labor Day of the fall semester.• PT/QUEST grade K services begin no later than March 1.

Why Change and Why Now?

• Transition to STAAR that is set for next year

•Cannot support any pullout program that takes kids out of TEKS instruction - especially for the period of time that we do currently for elementary G/T services

• Creates a system that prepares all of our students for the rigors of STAAR, but it also puts the emphasis on the services we are providing to our G/T students

FacilitiesRemaining with the current configuration with a pull-out program at Carver will require that the facilities be improved to continue to house the GEM program anyway. Part of the improvements were included in the last bond proposal.

The facility offers some unique opportunities including the auditorium, Destination ImagiNation facilities, as well as a separate full-size gymnasium.

Who will attend Carver under the new plan?

Students who are identified during the current identification period or who have been identified as G/T previously and who will be in grades 2 through 6 for 2011-2012: • Current QUEST 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade

• Current GEM 4th and 5th grade

• Newly identified for 2nd through 6th grade

How will students be identified for Carver GEM?

• Previously established criteria for G/T identification will be used for placement. •Students who are already identified GEM or QUEST will not need to be retested for placement but are being assessed for cumulative data.

• Current Project THINK students are all being evaluated at this time for possible G/T placement.

• Newly nominated students within the district are being evaluated at this time.

• Transfer students may be nominated upon entry to the district.

How do students retain enrollment in the program?

• Students who maintain an overall average of 85 in the four foundation curriculum areas and who meet passing standards on the STAAR will remain enrolled at Carver. •Students who do not maintain during the first semester will be placed on probation through the second semester and assisted with tutorials to maintain for the year.

• Students who do not meet passing standards on the STAAR will be placed on probation through the subsequent year, assisted with tutorials and remain enrolled if the student passes the subsequent STAAR.

What will the proposed GEM at Carver Center look like?

• Fine Arts• PE• Holiday celebrations• Library• Cafeteria• STAAR preparation • Continued TEKS based instructionand assessment • Bus transportation

• PTA• District field trips and activities• Nurse• Counselor• Student support services• Recess• Bilingual/ESL services as needed• Student Council• Computer Labs

Carver will have all the programs and amenities of a regular elementary campus:

What will the proposed GEM at Carver Center look like?

Accelerated and enriched content beyond what is ordinarily provided by the schools.

• Destination ImagiNation• Texas Performance Standards Project• Inquisitive Cuisine• Academic competitions

• UIL A+ Program• Pentathlon• Robotics• Future Problem Solving

• Interest Investigations• Cambridge Physics Project• Hummingbird Haven• Archaeology

• Extracurricular activities built into days• Chess Club• PE tournaments• Math Club

• Oceanography• Journalism/Photography• Extensive Technology Usage • Thematic Units• CPM Algebra Prep Course• More to come!

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Carver will have programs unique to GEM:

Advantages of the proposed changes:

• Raises the bar for ALL students

• GT students will be able to learn in their own unique ways

• Meets the unique academic, social and emotional needs of gifted students

• Ensures depth, complexity and pacing of content to prepare students to be more successful in the secondary program i.e. NMSQT, AP-based G/T courses, dual enrollment programs, PSAT, SAT, ACT…

More Questions

Ryder Warren

Office: 432-689-1002ryder.warren@midlandisd.net