Talented & Gifted Education (TAG)
The Talented and Gifted (TAG) Program is built on the following 4 foundations: fine arts, creativity, leadership, and career/academics.
TAG students in 3rd grade - 8th grade are served in a "pull out" program with the TAG Instructor that meets with them two hours per week and is structured around the Texas Performance Standards Projects (TPSP). The TPSP comprises a set of performance standards, curricula, and assessments for differentiating instruction and deepening academic learning. Each grade level works on a different task each year, and the TAG students present their TPS Projects at the end of the school year.
TAG students in Kindergarten – 2nd grade are served in their homeroom classrooms with resources and through the library with the TAG Instructor. In addition, TAG students in Kindergarten – 5th grade are served through our International Baccalaureate Program in their homeroom classrooms.
TAG Nomination Process
Students participate in the TAG Program based upon the results of standardized tests and observation/performance in the classroom. Parents, teachers, and/or students may make nominations for the TAG Program assessment by completing the appropriate grade level nomination form by the stated deadline. No nomination/parent packet is declined unless it is unsigned by a parent or submitted after the published deadline.
Gifted assessments, a teacher checklist, a parent checklist, and/or an academic work sample will be used by the TAG Selection Committee to determine if placement into the G/T program is appropriate to meet the needs of the student. Elementary/Middle school students are assessed late in the first semester for services beginning in early spring.
TAG Screening Process
The TAG Program serves students who, based upon a preponderance of evidence gathered during the assessment process, perform at or show the potential to perform at or above the second standard deviation from the mean on standardized ability and achievement tests. After reviewing the data and information for each candidate, decisions are made on an individual basis by a trained campus committee. The district does not place a 'cap' on TAG enrollment. SAA is unable to use assessments conducted outside of a school environment such as those conducted by a private counselor or clinician when making TAG admission decisions for SAA students.