Your building Talented and Gifted Educational Advisor (TEA) is Diane Bohan.

Most schools has a TEA and a TAG committee. These people are school resources.

The BVSD identifies students as gifted K-12 and most students are identified by the middle of elementary school.

Identified TAG students have a Personalized Learning Plan (PLP) that specifies gifted programming, accountability, evaluation and recommendations for that student. This plan is developed by the classroom teacher or subject teacher in the identified area(s) of strength, the TEA, the parent and student as appropriate.

Students may be identified as gifted “across the board” or in specific curricular area(s).

There is a nomination process. Students may be nominated by teachers, parents, other adult peers (when appropriate). TEA’s have nomination forms.

The building’s TEA handles the assessment and gathering of data for TAG student identification. Identification as a TAG student is based on multiple criteria including at least aptitutde/ability assessments, achievement assessment, teacher inventory, parent inventory, specialists inventory, and performance and product reviews.

Students who are staffed in Special Education or who have disabilities may also be identified as gifted.

Low SES students, ESL students of color are traditionally underrepresented and/or underserved in gifted programs nationwide. Awareness of this and multicultural competency can help teachers look beyond stereo types to fund these gifted students.

There are no gifted schools or self-contained gifted classrooms in the BVSD.

BVSD has a TAG Parent Handbook that teacher can give to parents who approach them for information about TAG and their child. You can get copies from your TEA. You can also access it at the link below.

The educational needs of gifted students include programming that provides opportunities for acceleration and fast-paced learning, complexity of thinking and in-depth learning. Remember: Pace, Complexity and Depth.

Serving the needs of gifted students in BVSD focuses on strategies such as class selections, grouping, differentiation, acceleration, independent student, pull-out, and other creative and sound practices for insuring the commensurate growth of gifted students. TAG professional development opportunities have focused on differentiation strategies for the past few years.

Gifted students are not tutors or teacher helpers in the classroom. They should be focusing on their own education and learning. A gifted students in your class who is way ahead of their classmates is a huge challenge. Teachers don’t hesitate to ask for help with ideas, opportunities and strategies.

There is a TAG District Advisory Committee comprised of administrators, teachers, TEA’s, parents and community people. This group meets once a month during the school year and members make a year-long commitment. Teacher who are on TAG DAC are compensated for their time.

Links:
BVSD’s Talented and Gifted Handbook