TAG Testing in Round Rock ISD
by Daniel Brillhart
We are coming up on the season of TAG testing here in RRISD. This might be a good time to consider who and what TAG testing is for, and to consider what TAG testing is not.
According to the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted / Talented Students (English version of Texas State Plan; Spanish version of Texas State Plan), a gifted student is defined as:
“…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)
Gifted education meets an educational need. It is provided for students who show such an educational need through formal cognitive assessment and observed traits and behaviors. Gifted education services are means of meeting the educational needs of students, not an honor or reward.
One way of thinking about gifted education is to consider the classic Bell curve:
When you assess students, the normal distribution of students will show up somewhat like a Bell curve. The students who are in the orange area (the vast majority of students, about 85%) are within the normal range for their age group. The students in the green area are students who need support in some way, while the students in the blue group are students who need more challenge. The green and blue areas are not large percentages of the population, generally around 5-10% each.
When RRISD assesses students for the TAG (Talented and Gifted) services, we are looking for students who are in the top 5% of the Bell curve. For us, that means they are showing an educational need for additional services in order to meet their needs.
There are a number of reasons a student should be tested, such as the need for mental challenges and possibly academic acceleration. However, just because a student claims he or she is “bored” in school does not mean that he or she is TAG. In fact, the vast majority (about 75%) of students who are tested do not meet the criteria or need for TAG services.
If you are considering having your child tested for TAG, here are some considerations to take into account before completing the referral:
- Maturity: TAG testing is rigorous and time consuming. Students who are tested will have between 3-5 hours of testing.
- Are your child’s educational needs being met in the classroom? If he or she is already being challenged, then consider if inclusion in the TAG program will overload them or damage their concept of self-worth.
- Studying: Studying for the test is not productive. There are tests out there that parents can purchase for study, but this does not benefit the student. Giving your child opportunities to think differently through play and games is great. When you have your child study for a particular test you run the risk of placing them in a situation where he or she struggles with the content and pace, and this can lead to a dislike of school or damage to his or her concept of self-worth.
- The testing is not something that should be approached as pass / fail. Yes, we have criteria that must be met, but placing the “pass / fail” mentality on students can lead to stress. Instead, consider sharing with your child that he or she is being tested to see where he or she currently stands. Nothing more, nothing less.
Round Rock ISD has a state-recognized TAG program, and it is something that the parents of this district should be proud of. However, it is also important to realize that not all students who test will show an educational need for TAG services. And that is okay.