La Porte Independent School District

Founded upon the belief that schools should be places for student talent development, the La Porte ISD Gifted and Talented Program is committed to providing the resources, encouragement, opportunities, and research-based instruction to assist students in achieving at their highest levels of potential.

LPISD’s gifted and talented program seeks to meet the following goals:

1. Strengthen student academic performance with meaningful, enriched learning experiences.

2. Foster positive self-concepts that meet the unique social, emotional, and intellectual needs of gifted/talented students to provide them the opportunity to become independent, creative, and self-directed learners.

3. Create and maintain a learning community that encourages professional growth for all staff in the philosophy, theory, and practice of gifted education.

4. Establish a collaborative relationship between school and community that promotes community-based service opportunities for students to grow socially and emotionally.

5. Develop a school culture that encourages a parent and school partnership in program planning, implementation, and decision making.

6. Participate in the Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP), or other experiences that result in the development of sophisticated products and/or performances that are targeted to an audience outside the classroom.

Advanvced Academics

ELEMENTARY SERVICE DESIGN

The focus of services for the gifted students at elementary level (K – 5) is to develop creative and productive thinking and produce innovative products. In La Porte ISD, students in grades K-5 are served in two ways: through differentiated instruction in their regular classrooms and through small group, pull-out instruction with their gifted peers for enrichment and extension opportunities each week. In the regular classroom, students are provided a differentiated curriculum in the four content areas that develops higher-level thinking skills and processes. Acceleration may also be provided when appropriate. These services are provided at their individual campus within the regular classroom setting by teachers who have the required 30 hours of G/T training to include a yearly six–hour update.

In addition, G/T students in grades K-5 are provided additional small group instruction with their gifted peers at least 45 minutes per week to deepen their classroom learning, explore learning of personal interest, and to participate in independent research projects aligned to the Texas Performance Standards Projects (TPSP). These projects allow students to deepen their academic understandings through an inquiry model of their choosing across multiple content areas that are aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in the core subjects. Students present their learning in a campus and district showcase with their peers each spring.

SECONDARY SERVICE DESIGN

The focus of services for the gifted students at the secondary level is that of college preparation and advancement or acceleration in academic courses. Students are encouraged to begin advanced courses in junior high and continue with collegiate-level courses throughout high school. Advanced Courses (Pre-AP/Advanced) and Collegiate courses (Dual Enrollment/AP) provide rigorous academic learning in the four core areas (English, mathematics, social studies, and science), and opportunities for students to earn college credit while in high school. These services are provided at their individual campus within the regular classroom setting by teachers who have the required 30 hours of G/T training to include a yearly six –hour update or by collegiate-level professors at institutions of higher education.

In addition to advanced or collegiate-level courses, gifted students in secondary can also participate in the Accelerated College Education (ACE) Program, a dual-enrollment program designed to allow students to graduate high school with an associate degree from San Jacinto College (SJC). Students take courses at SJC (Central Campus) as well as classes at the high school campus. The district will provide transportation between the two campuses; however, students do have the option of driving or having their own transportation.

Lastly, gifted students in the secondary grades are encouraged to participate in academic competitions on their campuses. These include UIL Academic competitions, Robotics FIRST Lego League, Academic Decathlon, and Quiz Bowl, to name a few. Students are also provided small group instruction with their gifted peers to complete independent inquiry/research that deepens their classroom learning and explores learning of personal interest. Learning culminates with participation in the TPSP Showcase, History Fair, Science Fair and/or AP Capstone where students showcase their learning to the community and their peers.

STEPS FOR IDENTIFYING GIFTED LEARNERS

STEP 1: REFERRALS FOR G/T ASSESSMENT

• Members of La Porte ISD professional staff, teachers and/or parents may refer students for assessment and identification. (See Appendix B: Parental Consent for G/T Assessment)

• Referrals are accepted at a designated time during the school year; Specific assessment and identification timelines are completed according to the published district timeline. (See Appendix C: G/T Assessment Timeline)

• Students in grades 1-12 may be assessed once during any academic year.

• All Kindergarten students are automatically considered for gifted/talented services and are screened/assessed according to the published district timeline (Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students 1.5.2R.)

STEP 2: ASSESSMENT AND SCREENING PROCESS

• Written parent/guardian permission must be secured for any testing given to referred students and not given to the entire grade level. (See Appendix B: Parental Consent for G/T Assessment)

• Each student in grades 1 – 12 who is referred is assessed using instruments determined by the G/T Selection & Review Committee. Assessment data includes both qualitative and quantitative data collected through three (3) or more measures to determine if students need gifted/talented services (1.5.4C).

• The child’s teacher or other campus/district professional who is knowledgeable in the field of gifted education administers any specialized assessment. Assessments may also be given online.

• Students who miss G/T assessments due to excused absences may attend a make-up assessment or complete assessments during the next G/T assessment window according to the published district timeline.

• All students in kindergarten will be screened in their regular classroom setting for possible gifted/talented service needs. This screening will take place according to the published district timeline.

STEP 3: IDENTIFICATION

The G/T Selection & Review Committee will review all student assessment data and make recommendations for qualification for the Gifted and Talented Program. In addition to the formal assessment data, the committee may also use other information or data regarding student achievement or performance to make a determination about qualification. The committee will strive for consensus; however, a majority vote is required.

STEP 4: PARTICIPATION

• Parent/guardian permission must be secured for students to participate in the Gifted and Talented Program in LPISD.

• Student participation is immediate after the G/T Identification and Parent Permission is established.

• Student participation is ongoing, and re-evaluation is based on student performance in the program for the purpose of appropriate student placement and services.

The La Porte LAUNCH Program

La Porte ISD is committed to providing gifted students in grades 5-6 opportunities to explore their interests through rigorous, project-based learning in partnership with content experts. Through a partnership with University of Houston—Clear Lake, G/T students will spend 15 hours per semester taking courses of their choosing in Computer Science & Technology, Art, and Science at the university. These mini courses are designed to be investigative, challenging, and culminating with advanced products that communicate the depths of their learning.

PROGRAM GOALS

The primary goal of the LAUNCH program is to expose G/T students to opportunities that

develop 21st century learning skills while fostering a level of rigor in high-interest areas.

Students will:

•Use project-based learning to take supported academic risks.

•Use critical thinking and reasoning abilities through guided questioning and inquiry.

•Develop independent and self-directed learning by exploring topics of interest or

choice.

•Acquire advanced level understanding of content and process through creative

and academic challenge.

•Develop a foundation of research skills and methods.

SCHEDULE

Students will spend 15 clock hours in each mini-course each semester. Students will travel to UHCL on select Fridays from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Students will travel with adult chaperones from each campus for the day. Dates of LAUNCH courses are as follows:

Semester 1: September 15, October 13, October 20, November 17 and December 1

Semester 2: January 19, February 2, February 23, March 1, and April 12