Board of Trustees

The role of the board of trustees:

The board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school has primary responsibility for ensuring that the district or school complies with all applicable requirements of state educational programs (TEC §7.028).

1. How to identify G/T students in your school and ensure all populations are represented

Local districts’ boards of trustees are responsible for making knowledgeable decisions about programs and services for gifted students. Students identified for participation in locally-developed programs should reflect the demographics of the community at large. Efforts should be made to continue to evaluate gifted program services until identified gifted students reflect demographics of the general student population of the district.

The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students outlines minimum requirements for identifying gifted students. The identification process, including assessment instruments and nomination procedures, should be consistently monitored to incorporate measures that may assist the district in the identification of students from all subpopulations.

Student Assessment Documents and Procedures

2. How to design and deliver G/T programs to ensure quality instruction

The local board of trustees is charged with the evaluation of the quality of gifted services. Again, local districts’ boards of trustees are responsible for making knowledgeable decisions about programs and services for gifted students. Efforts should be made to continually evaluate the gifted program services to ensure proper personnel are leading this instructional effort.

Service Design Documents and Procedures
 

3. What is taught, what resources are used, and what curriculum is implemented

The local board of trustees is charged with the evaluation of the quality of gifted services. Again, local districts’ boards of trustees are responsible for making knowledgeable decisions about programs and services for gifted students. Efforts should be made to continually evaluate the gifted program services to ensure proper personnel are leading this instructional effort.

Curriculum and Instruction Documents and Procedures
 

4. How to ensure quality instruction

The board of trustees provides resources for educators to define and develop appropriate strategies for differentiation. Again, the board is responsible for providing adequate instructional resources, encouraging training opportunities for staff, and endorsing continuous improvement of the quality of services provided to a program for gifted students. The following solutions from the field are suggested methods to address this issue.

Professional Development Documents and Procedures
 

5. How to evaluate the program

The board of trustees is charged with the duty to evaluate gifted services for their district. House Bill 3459 states that a board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school has “primary responsibility for ensuring that the district or school complies with all applicable requirements of state educational programs.” G/T is a state educational program.

House Bill 5 passed by the 83rd Texas Legislature states that for purposes of assigning the performance ratings to a school district, the district must evaluate student and community engagement in G/T programs. G/T educational programming is listed among those programs.

Family/Community Involvement Documents and Procedures
 

6. How to fund a quality program

The board of trustees ensures state funds are properly applied to services for gifted learners. Additional local funds will be required to provide high-quality instruction for students and training for personnel.

Service Design Documents and Procedures
 

7. How to institutionalize the program so it is not dependent on a gifted instructor/coordinator

The board of trustees may ensure quality services through board policies that reflect appropriate standards and procedures. Through a foundational set of policies and procedures, the board of trustees will provide guidelines for standards to district gifted students, their parents, and their educators.

Service Design Documents and Procedures