TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY

Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part II


Chapter 89. Adaptations for Special Populations

Subchapter A. Gifted/Talented Education

Statutory Authority: The provisions of this Subchapter A issued under the Texas Education Code, §29.122 and §42.156(b), unless otherwise noted.

§89.1. Student Assessment.

     School districts shall develop written policies on student
     identification that are approved by the local board of
     trustees and disseminated to parents. The policies must:
     
     (1)  include provisions for ongoing screening and selection
          of students who perform or show potential for
          performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment
          in the areas defined in the Texas Education Code,
          §29.121;
     
     (2)  include assessment measures collected from multiple
          sources according to each area defined in the Texas
          State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented
          Students;
     
     (3)  include data and procedures designed to ensure that
          students from all populations in the district have
          access to assessment and, if identified, services for
          the gifted/talented program;
     
     (4)  provide for final selection of students to be made by a
          committee of at least three local district educators
          who have received training in the nature and needs of
          gifted students; and
     
     (5)  include provisions regarding furloughs, reassessment,
          exiting of students from program services, transfer
          students, and appeals of district decisions regarding
          program placement.
Source: The provisions of this §89.1 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 5690.


§89.2. Professional Development.

     School districts shall ensure that:
     
     (1)  teachers who provide instruction and services that are
          a part of the program for gifted students have a
          minimum of 30 hours of staff development that includes
          nature and needs of gifted/talented students, assessing
          student needs, and curriculum and instruction for
          gifted students;
     
     (2)  teachers who provide instruction and services that are
          a part of the program for gifted students receive a
          minimum of six hours annually of professional
          development in gifted education; and
     
     (3)  administrators and counselors who have authority for
          program decisions have a minimum of six hours of
          professional development that includes nature and needs
          of gifted/talented students and program options.
Source: The provisions of this §89.2 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 5690.


§89.3. Student Services.

     School districts shall provide an array of learning
     opportunities for gifted/talented students in kindergarten
     through Grade 12 and shall inform parents of the
     opportunities. Options must include:
     
     (1)  instructional and organizational patterns that enable
          identified students to work together as a group, to
          work with other students, and to work independently;
     
     (2)  a continuum of learning experiences that leads to the
          development of advanced-level products and
          performances;
     
     (3)  in-school and, when possible, out-of-school options
          relevant to the student's area of strength that are
          available during the entire school year; and
     
     (4)  opportunities to accelerate in areas of strength.
Source: The provisions of this §89.3 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 5690.


§89.4. Fiscal Responsibility.

     School districts shall ensure that: no more than 15% of
     state funds allocated for gifted/talented education are
     spent on indirect costs.
Source: The provisions of this §89.4 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 5690.


§89.5. Program Accountability.

     School districts shall ensure that student assessment and
     services for gifted/talented students comply with
     accountability standards defined in the Texas State Plan for
     the Education of the Gifted/Talented.
Source: The provisions of this §89.5 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 5690.