-
Teachers who provide GT services as part of the NEISD GT program are required to complete the state-mandated 30 foundation hours prior to accepting the teaching assignment or completion during the first semester of employment in the position.
Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students:
5.1 A minimum of thirty (30) clock hours of professional learning that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students, identification and assessment of gifted/ talented students, and curriculum and instruction for gifted/talented students is required for teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the district’s defined gifted/talented services. Teachers are required to have completed the thirty (30) hours of professional learning prior to their assignment to the district’s gifted/talented services (19 TAC §89.2(1)).
The 30 hours of GT foundational training include:
- 6 hours of Nature & Needs (Day 1 of the 30-hour training)
- 6 hours of Identification and Assessment (Day 2 of the 30-hour training)
- 18 hours of GT Curriculum and Instruction (Days 3-5 of the 30-hour training)
The 30 hours of GT foundational training must be documented in a teacher’s Eduphoria Strive Portfolio for TEA Compliance. The 30 hours is a one-time training and does not expire - it is not a certification.
-
Who should attend GT professional learning?
- Any NEISD Teacher is welcome and encouraged to attend GT professional learning! Teachers providing GT services are required to complete the one-time state-mandated 30 hours of GT foundational training. This currently includes Elementary GT teachers, Secondary GT ELAR teachers (including stacked courses), Secondary GT/Advanced Academic Math teachers (including stacked courses), and GT Interdisciplinary Studies teachers.
-
I completed my GT hours in another district, does this count?
- Yes, if you have certificates from another district, you can upload your certificate(s) to Eduphoria Strive to request GT hours. All hours must be documented in Eduphoria.
-
Do the GT 30 hours count towards Teacher Choice?
- Teachers can receive Teacher Choice Hours for these sessions if the GT hours are completed outside of contract hours. All coursework must be completed outside of contract hours in order to count towards Teacher Choice.
- Teachers who complete the 30 hours through Region 20 must upload their certificates of completion to Eduphoria Strive in order to request credit.
-
I have a few GT hours in my Eduphoria portfolio…do I have to retake all 30 hours again?
- Please confirm the GT hours in your portfolio to identify any additional hours needed. Once a teacher completes the 30-hours and has uploaded the certificate(s) to their Eduphoria Strive Portfolio, it is not required to complete again.
- Teachers who continue to provide GT services as part of the district's service design must complete at least 6 hours of GT professional learning each year.
-
Where can I find GT professional learning sessions?
-
Region 20: NEISD is a member of the Region 20 GT COOP and ALL Region 20 GT courses are FREE for any NEISD teacher when they register using their district e-mail. Region 20 has asynchronous sessions, in-person, and Zoom options. Any of the sessions may be used as a 6-hour update for teachers who provide GT instruction. For other Region 20 GT professional learning opportunities, check out Region 20 courses on Connect 20. New sessions are added regularly.
-
Eduphoria: There are many GT sessions throughout the year including summer, Super Saturdays, and long weekends. Many sessions offered through content areas also include GT hours, such as Design Days, curriculum writing sessions, NEISD APSI, and unit trainings.
-
Teams: The weekly Teams updates are a great way to stay connected with the GT Department and learn about upcoming events.
-
-
Who must complete a 6-hour update?
- Teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the district’s defined gifted/ talented services must receive a minimum of six (6) hours annually of GT professional learning. This may be completed throughout the year, similar to Teacher Choice, and can be in any of the following categories: Nature & Needs, ID & Assessment, GT Curriculum & Instruction.
-
How do I earn credit once I have my certificate(s) of completion from outside workshops?
-
All professional learning should be reflected in a teacher’s Eduphoria Strive portfolio. Please see the directions on how to upload certificates to request credit.
-
Please note, that for Region 20, all certificates should have a different day on it. Please hand write the correct days on your certificates before uploading.
-
-
Required Administrator & Counselor Training
The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented students requires administrators and counselors to complete a one-time 6-hour training that addresses the nature and needs of GT students and service options for GT students.
Every administrator and counselor must have this training reflected in their Eduphoria portfolio. Please see upcoming sessions in Connect 20 or watch the weekly Teams updates for sessions throughout the year.
