Spring 2009 G/T Trainings

January

March 

GPA Standards Revised
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board met in committee on Wednesday, October 22, to again discuss the Uniform Grade Point Average (GPA) proposal. The Texas Legislature passed a law requiring that a statewide standard be developed that would be applied for college entrance. Dr. Raymond Paredes, the commissioner of the Board, had brought forward a preliminary proposal that caused controversy because it did not permit Pre-Advanced Placement (AP) and Pre-International Baccalaureate (IB) courses to receive extra weight when determining grade point average. The preliminary proposal also did not include fine arts courses or career and technology courses in the GPA determination.

Dr. Paredes requested additional time to consider comments and recommendations that have been brought forward by many individuals and groups. He said his final recommendations would be presented at a specially called meeting in December or the next scheduled meeting in January 2009. His most recent proposal includes the following changes and, if approved, will be posted in the Texas Register to comply with the thirty day comment period:

• All Pre-AP and Pre-IB courses would receive an additional half-point in GPA determination. All AP, IB, and dual-credit courses would still receive one additional point. Thus regular courses would count up to 4 points, Pre-AP and Pre-IB courses would be worth up to 4.5 points, and college-level courses would be worth up to 5 points.
• The Board would monitor the development of standards for Pre-AP and Pre-IB courses over the next five years. Dr. Paredes recommended that the standards developed by Laying the Foundations®, Inc., (or comparable standards) be adopted by school districts to ensure some degree of uniformity in these courses.
• A GPA Advisory Committee would be formed to monitor ongoing changes in high school courses, dual-credit courses, college requirements, etc.
• Fine arts classes would count when figuring grade point average.
• Many career and technology courses, specifically those that were related to university degree programs, would also count in the GPA.

The State of Education in Texas
The TAGT Research Division has completed its research survey and compiled findings with its report, The State of Gifted Education in Texas, that evaluates the implementation of the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students. Despite thirty years of growth in the delivery of gifted education in Texas, the actual results on how we are doing are surprisingly mixed.  Click on link to go to full report.

http://txgifted.org/files/pdf/2008_Research_Division_Report.pdf 

Congratulations

2008 TAGT

Region 3 Award Winners

Teacher of the Gifted: Mary Silkey, Victoria ISD

Advocate of the Gifted:Pat Buss, El Campo ISD

Parent of the Gifted: Leona Cosper, Goliad ISD

Rising Star Teacher:  Jami Casey, Matagorda ISD

How to implement Texas law and the State Board of Education rule concerning assessment and identification of gifted/talented students.
Learn methods of assessment that help accurately identify needs of the gifted students in a district.
Contribute ideas to the discussion board, share experiences, and research related information.
Objectives met through internet investigations, investigation of district information and practices, and threaded discussions.
Ten-question end-of-course knowledge test included.
Workshop meets Texas requirements for G/T basic training in assessing student needs.

G/T Online: Designing Curriculum for Gifted/Talented Students

• Innovative and practical ways to design appropriately challenging curricula for gifted students and

about the Texas Performance Standards Project for gifted students.

• Contribute ideas to the discussion board, share experiences, and research related information.

• Objectives met through internet investigations, investigation of district information and practices,

and threaded discussions.

• Ten-question end-of-course knowledge test included.

• Workshop meets Texas requirements for G/T basic training in curriculum and instruction for

gifted students.

G/T Online: Differentiating Instruction for Gifted/Talented Students

• Learn traditional methods of reaching gifted students as well as newly developed methods.

• What differentiation truly means and what it should look like for gifted students.

• Texas law requirements for the design of curricula for gifted students and which best instructional

practices should be followed.

• Contribute ideas to the discussion board, share experiences, and research related information.

• Objectives met through internet investigations, investigation of district information and practices,

and threaded discussions.

• Ten-question end-of-course knowledge test included.

• Workshop meets Texas requirements for G/T basic training in curriculum and instruction for

gifted students.

G/T Online: Nature and Needs of Gifted/Talented Students

• Cognitive, social, and emotional characteristics of gifted students.

• Contribute ideas to the discussion board, share experiences, and research related information.

• Objectives met through internet investigations, investigation of district information and practices, and threaded discussions.

• Workshop meets Texas requirements for G/T basic training in curriculum and instruction for

gifted students.

G/T Online: Setting Standards for Success of Gifted/Talented Students

• Assessment used to measure student growth and quality of a district's services for the gifted.

• Texas Performance Standards Project - how districts use it to ensure gifted students are achieving all they're capable of, and district services are helping gifted students reach goals established in the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students.

• Contribute ideas to the discussion board, share experiences, and research related information.

• Objectives met through internet investigations, investigation of district information and practices, and threaded discussions.

• Ten-question end-of-course knowledge test included.

• Workshop meets Texas requirements for G/T basic training in assessing student needs or curriculum and instruction for gifted students

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•·        Non Coop Schools $100 per teacher per course

       Coop School $50 per teacher per course

•·        Each course must meet the 10 teacher minimum. 

•·        Courses will not go over 20 participants

•·        No refunds for incomplete classes

Fall 2008

Fall 2008

Six Hour Updates

30 Basic Hours

On-Line E Course Trainings