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GIFTED & TALENTED AND AP PROGRAMS
All Children have special gifts.
Some children require differentiated instruction to fully develop extraordinary gifts.
Sherry Green, Deputy Superintendent
Office of Special Programs: 302 Laurel, 281-482-1267
GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM:

An Overview : Appeals : Exit Criteria : Furloughs : Gifted Program at FHS : Identification of Students : Program Goals : Qualifications : Referrals : Transfer Students
AP AND PRE-AP
* Advanced Placement Courses * Procedures for Pre-AP / AP Classes * Selection Criteria *
GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM GENERAL INFORMATION
The Gifted Program at FHS
Friendswood High School offers a variety of options for students identified as gifted and talented. Humanities I is an integrated curricular class of English and History and is exclusively offered to students identified as gifted. Humanities II is a Pre-AP class in English and student Students with Backpacksenrollment is limited to identified GT students during the sophomore year. Students with high ability in English are eligible for Advanced Placement English their junior and senior years by meeting the campus criteria for enrollment in AP classes. Students identified as gifted are encouraged to enroll in Advanced Placement classes in their areas of strength or interest. AP classes are offered in the English, math, science, social studies, foreign language, and fine arts disciplines. For a complete listing of AP courses, prerequisite courses, and course descriptions, see the Friendswood High School Academic Planning Guide. Students and parents should consult with a counselor to determine appropriate placement.
 
An Overview
Gifted and Talented (GT) programming at FHS consists of both Humanities classes at the 9th and 10th grade levels, and Pre AP/AP coursework available for students 9-12th grade. Admission into the 9th and 10th grade Humanities classes is restricted to only students identified as GT. Admission to pre AP/AP classes is based on the following policies explained below. Questions about any of the courses or admission into the GT program may be directed to Ann Mulder at 281-482-3413 x138. Mrs. Mulder coordinates GT services at FHS.
 
Referrals
A student may be nominated for the gifted and talented program by a teacher, counselor, administrator, parent, student, or community member. Once a nominations is made, a screening will be conducted. The screening committee will consist of the counselor, student's teacher, and one of the designated GT teachers. An administrator may also serve on this committee. The screening committee will review the student's achievement, actual classroom performance, information from the referral source and/or parents, and any other available information which is deemed appropriate. The committee may require the student to submit a portfolio. If the screening committee's recommendation is to formally test the student, then parent permission will be obtained first. Testing is completed by district and/or contract staff at the campus.
 
Identification of Students
The identification process is designed to determine which students require program alterations because of their unique educational needs.
Children can be nominated for screening by themselves, peers, parents, or teachers. Students with a standardized test score at or above the 95th percentile in reading or math will be screened.
 
FISD's identification process follows the Texas Education Agency Guideline, which states: "A minimum of 5 criteria are reviewed for each student nominated for the program and these criteria must include both objective and subjective assessments." FISD's identification matrix includes:
  • Performance on a designated intelligence test
  • National percentiles on a national standardized test
  • Learning Abilities Test
  • Subjective criteria such as: an interview, parent and teacher evaluation, autobiography, portfolio of student work considered to meet the expectations for a higher grade level
The selection committee will also consider students whose identification in another school district has been verified. Transfer students will receive a decision about placement within six weeks based on a student record review. Additional testing and observation may be needed for transfer students. 
 
Program Goals
Qualitative responses to differences in gifted students:
  1. To develop in each student an awareness, acceptance and a positive utilization of his/her giftedness.
  2. To assist in the development of the student's emotional maturity allowing him/her to accept responsibility for self, to sense a need of others, and to respond to that need effectively.
  3. To enhance the gifted student's quest for learning, to develop student skills in planning personal learning experiences, and to develop self-directed (independent) learning skills.
  4. To develop skills and abilities in the advanced levels of thinking (analysis, synthesis, and evaluation).
  5. To foster flexibility in the in-depth exploration of unknown areas; to encourage the development of advanced products challenging existing ideas and generating new ideas; to encourage the development of products using new materials, techniques and forms; to develop skills in locating real and appropriate avenues for sharing products.
To develop the student's capacity to internalize advanced concepts relevant to broad-based issues, themes and problems.
 
Exit Criteria
Student performance in the program shall be monitored. A student shall be removed from the program at any time the selection committee determines it is in the student's best interest. If a student or parent requests removal from the program, FHS shall honor that request after a conference with the selection committee or its representative. A student does not have to be enrolled each semester in a GT designated course or Advanced Placement course in order to be considered current.
 
Furloughs
Students who are unable to maintain satisfactory performance within the structure of the gifted and talented program may be placed on furlough by the selection committee. The purpose of such a furlough is to provide the student an opportunity to attain performance goals established by the selection committee. A furlough also may be granted at the request of the student and/or parent. A student may be furloughed for a period of time deemed appropriate by the selection committee. At the end of the furlough, the student's progress shall be reassessed and the student may re-enter the gifted program, be removed from the program, or be placed on another furlough
 
Transfer Students
When a student identified as gifted by a previous school district transfers into Friendswood High School, the student's records shall be reviewed by the selection committee to determine if placement in FISD's gifted program is appropriate. The committee shall make its determination within 30 days of the student's enrollment in FISD and shall base its decision on the transferred records, observations report of the FISD teachers who instruct the student and student and parent conferences. Additional testing may be necessary and will be conducted during this time frame. Parent permission will be obtained prior to testing.
 
Appeals
Parents or students may appeal any final decision of the selection committee regarding selection for or removal from the gifted program. Appeal shall be made first to the selection committee. Any subsequent appeals shall be made in accordance with FNG (LOCAL) beginning at Level Two. Contact Sherry Green , Assistant Superintendent for Instructiont, (281)482-1267

AP AND PRE-AP PROGRAM
General Information
The Pre-Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement courses offered at the senior high school level seeks to provide students with opportunities for creative and critical thinking and problem solving.Additionally, the ISM (Independent Study/Mentorship) course is available for students interested in pursuing collegiate and/or professional level scientific research. To obtain further information that is not addressed on this site concerning the G/T Program at FHS, call the Counseling Center @ 281.482.3413, ext. 211
 
Honors/Pre-Advanced Placement Advanced Placement Courses
For most students, qualifying for Honors, Pre-Advanced Placement, or Advanced Placement courses is based on student interest, past performance, teacher recommendation, and parental approval. Enrollment in these courses especially should be based on interest as well as ability, since the curriculum requires more advanced and intensive work. Advanced Placement courses prepare a student for the Advanced Placement Examinations given by the College Board. A successful score, stipulated by the university, on an Advanced Placement Examination determines the student's college placement and/or credit for the courses taken in high school. Advanced Placement courses offered in the Friendswood ISD include:
AP English III
AP English IV
AP Spanish V
AP French V
AP German V
AP Latin
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
AP U.S. Government
AP U.S. History
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Physics
AP Drawing Portfolio
AP Music Theory
AP Computer Science
AP 2-D Design Portfolio
AP 3-D Design Portfolio
The honors, pre-advanced, and advanced placement courses offered at the intermediate school and senior high school levels seek to provide students with opportunities for creative and critical thinking and problem solving. Course descriptions are listed below.
 
Procedures for Pre-AP/AP Courses
In an effort to place students in appropriate level classes, admission criteria has been established for Pre-AP and AP courses. If your child does not meet these requirements, as a parent you can request that admission requirements be waived for your child by completing the Parent Override Form for Admissions to Advanced Level Courses. When you complete the Parent Override Form you must understand that a schedule change will not be made until the end of the first nine weeks. Schedule changes will only be made with the approval of the principal, counselor, teacher, and parent. The grade earned will appear on the report card and transcript 
 
Selection Critieria
Since enrollment in AP classes do not require identification as a gifted and talented student, formal identification is only necessary for enrollment in Humanities I and II. Nevertheless, students who have been recommended for testing will be considered using objective and subjective data. Students being tested for identification purposes are required to take IQ and achievement tests. Students scoring in the superior range of intelligence on an individually administered IQ test and scoring at the 95th percentile in at least one area on a nationally standardized achievement test accepted by the district, meets the objective criteria for placement. Students must demonstrate gifted characteristics in at least one area considered by the committee to meet the subjective criteria. Students meeting the district's criteria in both objective and subjective criteria are placed in the GT program. Under special circumstances, the committee will recommend placement in the GT program based upon very high aptitude or extremely high achievement.