Strengths and Weaknesses of Fulton Countys Implementation of GA Rule 160-4-2.

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Based upon your local school experiences, analyze the strengths and weaknesses of Fulton County Schools procedures for implementing
Georgia Board of Education Rule 160-4-2.38. (GEPO-S1, GEPO-S2, GEPO-D1, GEPO-D2, GEPO-D6)
Georgia Board of Education Rule 160-4-2.38 defines the gifted child using the following definition:
demonstrates a high degree of intellectual and/or creative abilities, exhibits an exceptionally high degree of motivation, and and/or excels
in specific academic fields and who needs special instruction and/or special services
In my experience, River Trail does an excellent job of implementing this rule. Each fall, River Trail screens every student. Those with qualifying
test scores from the previous spring, meaning that he or she has exhibited his or her ability to excel in specific academic fields, are then tested
using the tests chosen by Fulton County to test a students eligibility for gifted services. I had the unique opportunity to observe the TTCT a
creativity test offered to Fulton County students being considered for the gifted program. The administration of this exam proves that Fulton County
is attempting to identify students who demonstrate a high degree of creative ability. Students also have the opportunity to take the Stanford 9,
which tests a students demonstration of a high degree of intellectual ability.
Additionally, each spring River Trail takes part in the CISS process, which allows all teachers to identify potentially gifted students. Teachers can
recommend students based on a variety of characteristics (Appendix 3). The CISS is a checklist of sorts. It gives teachers a list of ten characteristics
commonly exhibited by gifted students. On this checklist, there are also suggestions for what the exhibition of these characteristics might look like in
a student. Each year, River Trail trains (Appendix 4) its teachers, which is county policy, on how to correctly implement the CISS process, wherein
teachers are looking to see if students exhibit five or more of the designated qualities.
In addition to putting a great deal of effort into ensuring that gifted students are identified within the county, River Trail also puts a large
emphasis on ensuring that TAG students are properly and appropriately served. One way in which River Trail does this is grouping. Students have
the opportunity to be placed in TAG, Advanced, Mixed Model, and Accelerated Courses based upon their strengths. One area in which we could
improve is through the use and implementation of the TAG standards. Fulton County has TAG standards that every teacher of TAG students should
be enacting in his or her lessons. As far as I have seen, there is no accountability piece to the process.
With that being said, I still strongly feel that Fulton County, and more specifically, River Trail, are doing a great deal to ensure that we are
thorough in our search for gifted learners. Additionally, teachers work every day to ensure that gifted students receive special instruction and special
services