Gifted and Talented

Dilley Independent School District provides a gifted and talented program that is academic in nature and is designed to enhance the educational opportunities for students exhibiting exceptional academic abilities. Scheduling of program activities will be established and coordinated through the GT Specialists in collaboration with campus administration and teachers to fully maximize the opportunities for each gifted student.

All teachers in the district have met the G/T state requirements in order to provide differentiated instruction that utilizes the following instructional strategies: curriculum compacting, tiered assignments, flexible grouping, and independent research projects.

PHILOSOPHY

The Dilley Independent School District includes in its educational philosophy that all students should be given the opportunity to fulfill their potential. The classroom provides the setting for the development of academic potential. Because gifted/talented students possess the ability to progress beyond the regular curriculum, the district offers a differentiated program to cultivate these exceptional abilities. By providing a curriculum and environment that will enhance the uniqueness of the gifted learner, we will improve the quality of education for all students.

G/T Options

Assessment & Identification Process

Gifted and talented students are identified according to the state’s definition of giftedness.

“A gifted and talented student is a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area, possesses an unusual capacity for leadership, or excels in a specific academic field.” Texas Education Code, Subchapter D, 29.121

The identification process consists of three steps:

Referral of students for the program (this can be by a parent, teacher, campus administrator, or self)
Assessment of students using appropriate assessment instruments
Selection of students using a district profile for whom the gifted program is an appropriate educational placement

Data is collected from multiple sources to determine possible placement in the gifted program. The following assessments are utilized:

General Abilities Test
Cognitive Abilities Test
Achievement Test

Per the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, Section 1.5.1C: Data collected from multiple sources for each area of giftedness served by the district are included in the assessment process for gifted/talented services (19 TAC §89.1(2)).

Dilley ISD will utilize a universal screener for students in the district to identify those who are potentially gifted. If any indicators are present, the student will be referred for further testing.