The mission of Melissa ISD is to provide an enriched, rigorous, academic curriculum for identified gifted students.

According to the Texas Education Agency, “the state’s goal for G/T students is to ensure that those students who participate in G/T services demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communication. G/T students develop innovative products and sophisticated performances that reflect individuality and creativity and are targeted to an audience outside the classroom.”

“A gifted/talented student is a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area, possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or excels in a specific academic field” (Texas Education Code §29.121).

See Also: Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students (Texas Education Agency)

The Board-approved program for the gifted and talented shall establish criteria to identify gifted and talented students. The criteria shall be specific to the state definition of gifted and talented and shall ensure the fair assessment of students with special needs, such as the culturally different, the economically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities (Board Policy EHBB, LOCAL).

The District may place a furlough on any student who is unable to maintain satisfactory performance or whose educational needs are not being met within the structure of the gifted and talented program. A furlough may be initiated by the District, the parent, or the student.

In accordance with administrative regulations, a furlough shall be granted for specified reasons and for a specified period of time. At the end of a furlough, the student may reenter the gifted program, be placed on another furlough, or be exited from the program.

Some reasons for furloughing may include scheduling conflicts or student performance lacking in a manner that causes either parents or teacher to believe the GT environment is no longer in the best academic interest of the student.

The district shall monitor student performance in the program. If at any time the selection committee determines it is in the best interest of the student and his or her educational needs, the committee may exit a student from the program. If a student or parent requests removal from the program, the selection committee shall meet with the parent and student before honoring the request (Board Policy EHBB, Local). To access the Furlough Exit Form, visit the link below.

A parent or student may appeal any final decision of the selection committee regarding selection for or exit from the gifted program. Appeals shall be made first to the selection committee. Any subsequent appeals shall be made in accordance with Board Policy FNG, Local beginning at Level Two (Board Policy EHBB, Local).

A parent may appeal a committee decision within 15 business days of receiving the denial of placement letter.

Level I Appeal: An appeal committee will meet and review the student’s profile. This committee will consist of teachers with proper GT training and a campus administrator with proper GT training.

Level II Appeal: An appeal committee will meet and review the student’s profile with the addition of further evidence added to the level 1 appeal. The committee will include Melissa ISD’s Director of Advanced Academics.

Elementary: Students at the elementary level are serviced through a pull-out program that focuses on differentiated curriculum that is project based. The amount of time a student spends in this program is based on his/her grade level. For additional information about the elementary GT program, visit the link below.

Secondary: Students at the middle school level are serviced through a English/Language Arts and Reading class that also has a focus on the Humanities. Students at the high school level will be serviced through dual credit and honors classes. For additional information about the secondary GT program, visit the link below.

An informational meeting will be held annually for parents and new students who want to learn more about the program.

The listed sites are not endorsed by the district and are included for informational purposes only.

Parent & Student Links:

• Duke Tip

• Gifted and Talented Services from Stanford University

• Hoagies Gifted Education Page

• Mensa

• Mensa for Kids

• National Association for Gifted Children

• The Gifted Child Society

• Texas Association for Gifted and Talented

• Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted

Additional Websites:

• Dazzle on a Dime

• Dare to Differentiate

• Ian Byrd’s Byrdseed

• Lisa Van Gemert’s Gifted Guru

Coding Classes:

• UTD CS Outreach Program

• UTD Coding Camps