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District

Gifted & Talented

 Program Overview and Philosophy

Gifted students are eager to learn, but they may have specific needs that have potential to be unmet in the regular classroom or curriculum. The Troy Independent School District will address these needs by providing a comprehensive curriculum program that enhances student learning and encourages the growth of unique talents. Students will participate in activities that develop their abilities to think logically, independently and creatively, and to communicate effectively. The Troy ISD Gifted and Talented Program is characterized by quality, equity, and accountability.

Contact Information:

254-938-2595

1 Trojan Rd.

Troy, TX 76579

 

Referral and Identification Process

Step 1: Referrals – Any student can be referred to the Gifted and Talented Program by completing the appropriate referral form. 

Step 2: Screening – A portfolio composed of multiple forms of evidence is started.

Step 3: Testing – Abilities testing is performed and included in the student’s portfolio.

Step 4: Review – A GT Committee will meet and review all contents of the student’s portfolio.

Step 5: Decision – The GT Committee will determine the student’s eligibility for the program and decision letters will be mailed out.

 

GT REFERRAL AND ASSESSMENT TIMELINE

Please be on the lookout for our informative PowerPoint.  We will review our testing timeline and answer any questions you might have regarding our process.

  • June – December: Interest in GT Program Form – Online Version 
  • January: Referrals Open:  Any student can be referred to the Gifted and Talented Program by completing the appropriate referral form.  
  • February – April:
    • First week of Feb: Permission to Test Forms Due 
    • Testing begins for students with qualifying requirements 
    • Selection committee meets and results are shared late in the month
  • May:
    • Placement determination letters mailed to parents of all kindergarten students who qualify for the G/T Talent pool
    • Placement Determination letters mailed to parents of ALL tested students
    • Last Week of May: Parent Appeal of Placement Determination due

 

 

GT HANDBOOK & FORMS

Gifted and Talented Guideline Handbook 2024-25

Teacher Referral Online Form

Furlough and Exit Form (Printable Version)

 

GT Lightbulb Icon

Troy ISD GT Showcases

The Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) and Genius Hour Passion Project provides a series of TEKS-based performance tasks and assessments for gifted and talented (G/T) students in grades 3-8.
These interdisciplinary research units are implemented by Troy ISD to enrich the G/T program and require students to:

  • Identify and define a research problem or question
  • Review existing evidence
  • Refine their research question
  • Develop a research proposal
  • Carry out research

GT PARENT NEWSLETTERS

GT Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) 

Meeting PPT: 11/12/23

Bylaws

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
To read the State Plan, click this link: Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students

  • NAGC, National Association of Gifted Children

    NAGC empowers all who support children with advanced abilities in accessing equitable opportunities that develop their gifts and talents. We do this through advocacy, outreach, education, and research.

  • SENG, Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted

    SENG is a nonprofit organization that empowers families and communities to guide gifted and talented individuals to reach their goals: intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

  • Baylor TIP, Baylor Talent Identification Program

    At Baylor TIP our mission is to identify exceptional talent in STEM and the humanities and provide world-class learning opportunities commensurate with students’ exceptional potential.

  • TAGT, Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented

    The Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT) connects and empowers educators and parents to meet the unique needs of gifted and talented students from every cultural background who see the world in unique ways and are developing minds that just might discover innovative answers to the most challenging questions of their generation.

  • CTY, John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

    CTY is a center for innovation dedicated to advancing the field of gifted education through our research on testing, programs, and other supports for academically advanced students. On the premise that advanced learners come from every community and demographic, we aim to understand and inform how they need to be nurtured to achieve their full potential as scholars and global citizens.

  • Davidson Institute for Talent Development

    A free source of resources and general support for families with a profoundly intelligent child between the ages of 5 and 18. This program provides a rich community of peers as well as webinars, events, and more to assist families with parenting support, child and adolescent development, and talent development.

  • MENSA For Kids

    The Foundation developed Mensa for Kids for educators and teachers providing free, high quality, and diverse educational resources for kids of all ages.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Troy ISD Gifted and Talented Referral Process Timeline:

    JANUARY:

    • Parent Referral & Inventory Form sent out (at request) and posted online (gades 2-12)
    • 2nd grade Permission to screen forms sent to parents of referred students
    • Teacher Referral & Inventory Forms emailed to ALL 2-12 teachers 
    • RETURN DEALINE: LAST DAY OF JANUARY

    FEBRUARY-APRIL: 

    • Student Permission to Test forms dueRETURN DEADLINE: LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY
    • Referred students (3rd-11th) with returned permission assessed with qualitative and quantitative testing
    • Second graders with qualifying MAP RIT scores and returend permission assessed with qualitative and quantitative testing
    • Committee meets to determine G/T Talent Pool placement and placement of referred students

    MAY:

    • Placement determination letters mailed to parents of all kindergarten students who qualify for the G/T Talent Pool
    • Placement determination letters mailed to parents of all tested (Grades 2-12) students

    LAST WEEK OF MAY:

    • Parent Appeal of Placement Determination (Grades 2-12) deadline

  • Parents/guardians may refer their student(s) for Gifted and Talented testing by filling out the Initial Parent Referral Form, found on the Troy ISD Gifted and Talented Website.  Any questions can be directed to the Gifted and Talented Coordinator, Samantha Preece (samantha.preece@troyisd.org).

    In Kindergarten, all students are screened based on MAP test scores for the Gifted and Talented Talent Pool.  Students who qualify for the Talent Pool and return permission forms will remain in the Talent Pool through second grade.

    In second grade, all students are again screened based on MAP test scores.  Students who acquire at least the minimum cut-off score will receive a permission form for full testing.  Once testing is completed, parents will receive a placement determination letter.

  • You may refer your child at any time.  However, testing only occurs once a year – in the spring.  The official referral timeline is located on the Troy ISD Gifted and Talented Website.  Students referred after the deadline will be added to the list of referrals for the next school year.

    1. Make an official referral using the Initial Parent Referral Form on the Gifted and Talented website under Referral Information.
    2. Fill out the Parent Referral Packet, located on the Troy ISD Website, and return it to your student’s homeroom teacher.  This form also serves as the permission to test, so be sure to sign the portion of the form that requests permission before returning.

  • Placement determination letters are mailed each year in May.  

  • If you are unhappy with the committee’s decision, you may file an appeal. All appeals will be addressed according to Troy ISD Board policy.

  • If your child needs a furlough or exit for any reason, contact your student’s campus.

  • At the time of withdrawal, parents should request that all Gifted and Talented records be sent with the student’s other records.  Students transferring from another school district go through the same G/T process (profile matrix completion and committee approval) as students that are fully tested in the district. 

    If incomplete information is received from the student’s school district, it is possible that the student will need to complete a portion, or all, of the testing given to in-district students.  Parent permission will be necessary to complete any testing and/or placement in the G/T program.