Director of Advanced Academics:

Courtney Sharkey 972-226-5974 courtney.sharkey@sunnyvaleisd.com

Sunnyvale Independent School District recognizes the individual differences in abilities, needs and interests of the school population it serves. A sound instructional program for Sunnyvale ISD students includes a program for gifted and talented learners. These students can benefit from instruction that develops and challenges their unique abilities in an environment that fosters creativity and productivity. Recognizing that gifted students possess distinct characteristics and needs, Sunnyvale ISD commits itself to provide a quality, optimal educational experience for each gifted and talented student.

Gifted and Talented Program Placement

Referrals/Assessments
A parent/guardian, teacher, counselor, or other interested persons may submit a referral in reference to a student for the gifted and talented program by completing the linked referral form below. Data collected through both objective and subjective assessments shall be measured against the criteria approved by the Board to determine individual eligibility for the program. Assessment tools may include, but are not limited to the following: achievement tests, intelligence tests, behavioral checklists completed by teachers, teacher nominations based on classroom observations, and student work products, if available.

Parental Consent
Written parental consent shall be obtained before any special testing or individual assessment is conducted as part of the screening and identification process. All student information collected during the screening and identification process shall be an educational record, subject to the protections set out in policies and/or FERPA law.

The Selection Committee
A selection committee shall evaluate each nominated student according to the established criteria and shall select those students for whom gifted program placement is the most appropriate educational setting. The committee shall be composed of at least three professional educators who have received training in the nature and needs of gifted students.

Parent Notification
Parents will be notified in writing of the Selection Committee’s decision. Participation in any program or services provided for the gifted students is voluntary. The District shall obtain written permission of the student and the parents before a student is placed in a gifted program.

Appeals
Parents may appeal any final decision of the selection committee regarding selection for or removal from the gifted program. Appeal shall be made first to the selection committee. Any subsequent appeals shall be made in accordance with FNG (LOCAL) beginning at Level Two.

Furlough
Upon written request of the parent/guardian, a student may be granted a leave of absence from the gifted and talented services. A furlough may be granted for reasons such as class schedule conflicts, student illness, serious illness or death of a family member, and short-term relocation of the family. The selection committee may also place students who are unable to maintain satisfactory performance within the structure of the gifted and talented program on furlough. The purpose of such a furlough is to provide the student an opportunity to attain performance goals established by the selection committee.

A student may be furloughed for a period of time deemed appropriate by the selection committee. At the end of the furlough, the student’s progress shall be reassessed, and the student may reenter the gifted and talented program, be removed from the program, or be placed on another furlough.

No Reassessments
The District shall not perform routine assessments.

Transfer Policy:
Elementary GT Transfers- When an elementary learner has been actively receiving gifted and talented services in their previous school, that learner’s qualifying data and any new data available will be considered by a district-level GTC within 30 school days of receipt of that data.  The GTC will use that data to determine if Sunnyvale ISD GTI Services are an appropriate placement for the learner. Any new data acquired and a teacher input form will also be considered.  If additional screening is required, parents will be notified. 

Secondary GT Transfers- In alignment with and support of SISD GT Services guidelines, the only SISD GT courses a secondary transfer learner would be eligible to enroll in would be those in which the learner was enrolled in at the learner’s previous district or those that align with the specific subject(s) of identification (if that information is provided upon enrollment).  Any GT Services provided beyond advanced courses would only be made available to students after the GTC makes a determination based on the student’s qualifying data and teacher input. Again,  if additional screening is required, parents will be notified.  

[See FDD(LEGAL) for information regarding transfer students and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children]

Exit Provisions
Student performance in the program shall be monitored. A student shall be removed from the program at any time the selection committee determines it is in the student’s best interest. If a student or parent requests removal from the program, the selection committee shall meet with the parent and student before honoring the request.

Program Evaluation
The gifted program shall be evaluated periodically, and evaluation information shall be shared with Board members, administrators, teachers, counselors, students in the gifted and talented program and the community.

Community Awareness
The District shall ensure that information about the District’s gifted and talented program is available to parents and community members and that they have an opportunity to develop an understanding of and support for the program.

SISD GT Handbook

TEA GT Website

Myths about GT students

Supporting your GT Student

24-25 Referral Form