Advanced Academics Updates
For Klein ISD Leaders
February 18, 2020
Professional Learning Meetings:
- February 19 AP GT Guiding Coalition 8:00-11:00 AM
- February 29 GT Professional Learning: Blended DC and CI TLC 100
- SAVE THE DATE: June 16: Required GT Principal Update
- SAVE THE DATE: June 17: Required GT Counselor Update
Events:
- February 22 Destination Imagination Regional Tournament-KCainHS
- March 6-8 State Decathlon Tournament-San Antonio
- March 21 HAC GT Update: John Spencer-KMPC
- March 26-27 Research Expo KMPC
- March 30 District Pentathlon KMPC
Exams:
- SAT School Day March 4-Juniors Only!
- SAT: Test Date: March 25 (Seniors Only!)
- ACT:Test Date: March 24
- AP Exam Testing: May 4-15
- IB Exam Testing: May 4-22
SUMMER 2020 SAVE THE DATE: ADVANCED ACADEMICS PL
GT UPDATE CONFERENCE: SECONDARY
ALL PRINCIPALS: FREE REGISTRATION FOR TAGT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE!
On behalf of the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT) Board and membership, I want to extend a personal invitation to you to be our guest at a special 3-hour training session at the TAGT 2020 Leadership Conference.
3-Hour G/T Policies and Programs Training
Monday, March 30
1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sugar Land Marriott
FREE to Principals and Superintendents
With HB3, policies around how districts/schools serve and fund their gifted and talented students have changed significantly—principals and superintendents must be aware of their new responsibilities or risk losing funding. The Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented invites you to attend a special, 3-hour, complimentary training on current gifted education policies in Texas, the new Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, and how these policies and plans affect your district and school campuses. Additional information on the nature and needs of gifted students will be provided to help build understanding of these students’ unique needs and how your districts can best serve them.
TAGT is a TEA-approved CEU provider for both superintendents and school board members, so this is a great opportunity to show your support for gifted education, build connections with educators, and participate in valuable training.
Register for this limited opportunity by March 20, 2020. This complimentary registration is for superintendents, principals, and members of the local school board only and is not transferable to other district personnel. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact TAGT at 512-499-8248 or membership@txgifted.org. We hope that you will be able to join us for this special training session in Sugar Land.
Teachers as well as administrators who have supervisory duties for service decisions are
required to complete a minimum of six (6) hours of professional development that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students and service options for gifted/talented students (19 TAC §89.2(4)).
Cultivate Talent: Spring 2020 GT Professional Learning Playlist
John Spencer in Klein ISD March 21, 2020!
Advanced Academics is excited to announce that we are bringing renowned author and educator, John Spencer, back to Klein ISD! John will be joining us for a full day of professional development on Saturday, March 21, 2020.
John is the author of the book LAUNCH which details Design Thinking and how to implement this cycle into the classroom. We have taken this cycle and incorporate it into our research milestones in order to help students design more meaningful products for their GT research. He also authored the book Empower which focuses on student owned learning.
While visiting Klein, John will be presenting professional learning on two topics: PBL for ALL, and Expower. Here is what John says about each topic:
Empower: What Happens When Students Own the Learning?
Student choice is about more than just a menu option. It’s about student ownership. This includes ownership of the processes, the assessment, the strategies, and the metacognition. But how do we make this happen? How do we fit this into our standards and our curriculum map? This workshop will help you to incorporate student ownership into your class.
Project-Based Learning for All
PBL can seem daunting when you have time constraints, standards, and a curriculum map. Often, the push for better test scores and “basic skills” means certain students fail to have access to these projects. However, PBL can work for all students and in this workshop, I lay out the blueprint for making this a reality.
All GT teachers are welcome to join us for this amazing day of learning! You will earn 6 hours of GT Update credit for the 19-20 school year. If you have already earned your update credit or you are a new to GT teacher, your hours will still count towards your PD hours for the year. We look forward to seeing you there!
Klein ISD is hosting this course for the Houston Area Coop, so sign up through EventBrite at the following link: John Spencer PL
A minimum of thirty (30) clock hours of professional learning that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students, identification and assessment of gifted/ talented students, and curriculum and instruction for gifted/talented students is required for teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the district’s defined gifted/talented services. Teachers are required to have completed the thirty (30) hours of professional learning prior to their assignment to the district’s gifted/talented services (19 TAC §89.2(1)
GT Identification: Appeals Process
Advanced Academics Update from TEA
Advanced Placement (AP)
Applications are open for 2020 AP® Summer Institute Scholarships. These scholarships cover some or all of the cost of attending an AP Summer Institute (APSI). This year the College Board is offering the three competitive scholarship programs. Application due dates are:
- February 11, 2020 - for AP Fellows and AP Rural Fellows
- February 28, 2020 - for AP Capstone
Dual Credit
The Texas Workforce Commission has published the Request for Applications 32020-00042 Dual Credit and Technical Education–Equipment Only Grant solicitation. This is a great opportunity for districts to begin new dual credit CTE courses and to purchase new equipment or repair equipment for current dual credit CTE courses. Please email RFA Grants at rfagrants@twc.state.tx.us if you have questions.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Find a wealth of information about Texas International Baccalaureate Schools (TIBS) in the Archive of their published newsletters and meeting notes for PYP (Primary Years Programme), MYP (Middle Years Programme) and DP (Diploma Programme) Coordinator meetings.
SAT
Klein ISD SAT School Day administration is March 4, 2020 for all enrolled Juniors!
Spring administration is upon us!
- Registration Deadline: January 31 - Test Date: March 25
- Registration Deadline: February 14 - Test Date: April 14
- Registration Deadline: February 28 - Test Date: April 28
*Important update!* When registering students for SAT school day administrations, please ensure that you are putting the student unique ID (10-digit state-assigned ID) OR the student local ID (9-digit district-assigned ID). Districts should NOT put the SSN when registering their students. This will assist TEA in properly identifying and matching students within our data system.
ACT
Spring administration is upon us! Don’t forget to enroll your district/campus for ACT School Day administration and give your students the opportunity to take one SAT/ACT for free.
- Registration Deadline: February 7 - Test Date: March 24
- Registration Deadline: March 20 - Test Date: April 21-23 or April 28-30 (online only)
The full newsletter is linked HERE.
What is Required in the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students?
The State Plan forms the basis of gifted/talented standards of services and divides them into the categories of accountability and exemplary. The plan offers an outline for services. Districts are accountable for services as described in the State Plan where performance measures are included for six aspects of G/T service design: Fidelity of Services, Student Assessment, Service Design, Curriculum and Instruction, Professional Learning, and Family/Community Involvement.
The accountability standards reflect actions required in state law and/or SBOE rule. Featured this week are the first seven standards for Fidelity of Services. Standard 1.3 was repealed with the passing of HB3.
School districts comply with gifted/talented accountability standards and monitor the effectiveness of assessment and services for gifted/talented students.
1.1 Student assessment and services are in compliance with the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students (19 TAC §89.5).
1.2 Gifted/talented education policies and procedures are reviewed and recommendations for improvement are made by an advisory group of community members, parents of gifted/talented students, school staff, and gifted/talented education staff, who meet regularly for that purpose.
1.4 To the extent that state funding is provided for gifted/talented student education, local funding for gifted/talented education programs is used to supplement the state funding.
1.5 Annual evaluation activities are conducted for the purpose of continued service development.
1.6 Long-range evaluation of services is based on evidence obtained through gifted/ talented-appropriate performance measures such as those provided through the Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP).
1.7 The development and delivery of curriculum for gifted/talented students is monitored regularly by trained administrators.