Aldine I.S.D. Teacher Handbook - Aldine Independent School District

We appreciate your comments, concerns and suggestions.
Are there specific topics you would like the district program director to address at the
parent/community advisory committee?
G. Funding
1. The program is state funded and the summer PEIMS report provides the number of
identified students to be funded. The state formula allows for only 5% identified gifted and
talented students to be funded.
2. The state funds that the Encounters program receives and provides financial support to G/T
students and G/T education teachers. The purpose of the funds is to supplement the general
education fund and provide staff development for teachers and curriculum differentiation
for students. In addition to academics, the funds also support extracurricular activities for
G/T students. Some of the activities supported are: Destination Imagination, SAT testing,
PSAT testing, AP testing, Duke Talent Search and Decathlon. High school administrators
submit a list of G/T students who take the PSAT for reimbursement. A list of the G/T
students who take the AP exams is submitted and students are subsidized up to $25.00 per
test taken.
3. Schools requesting to spend money allocated are to submit requisitions for approval and for
coding.
4. Schools must demonstrate that the requested expenditure will serve students who are
identified as academically gifted.
5. Materials and staff development should support the identification of gifted students and a
differentiated curriculum for the gifted student.
H. Accelerated Program
The Encounters program is committed to realizing the potential of all students. There are many
students who can benefit from participation in the same curriculum scope and sequence of the gifted
and talented students. The difference is that their learning experiences are more structured and
modifications are made to the content, process, and product to ensure that these students are
successful. These students are screened, identified and folders are established. These students are
coded into the GATE screen. These students are monitored and progress is reviewed yearly.
I. Encounters (G/T) Program Student Review
By April of each year, the principal will direct G/T teachers and counselors to review the progress of
each G/T student. If any student is not performing to a level that is acceptable to remain in his G/T
component, the student will be referred to the G/T screening committee for evaluation. (Sufficient
documentation of parent contact must be in the student folder.) The screening committee will
review, evaluate, and recommend continued placement or removal from the G/T component.
III. SPECIAL EDUCATION
Consideration of a student's need is initiated by contacting the campus level Early Intervention Team (EIT).
A referral may be made by the regular classroom teacher, parent or guardian, community agencies, physician,
other school personnel, groups, organizations, or other appropriate individuals. Universal screening data will
also determine students that need to go into interventions through Response to Intervention (RtI).
EIT should convene to discuss the student and to develop research based-peer reviewed interventions for the
teacher to try with the student. It may be recommended that the student receive additional support in the
classroom or with an intervention teacher that assists students that are in TIER 2 or TIER 3 interventions, see
Teacher Handbook 2012-2013 182