Gifted Services

Talented and Gifted (TAG)

Gifted Program Manual
Manual del Programa para Dotados

TAG Parent Night 2024 Presentation – English
TAG Parent Night 2024 Presentation – Spanish

2024-2025 Talented and Gifted (TAG) Referral Window

Thank you for your interest in Round Rock ISD’s gifted and talented services.

Parents and/or Guardians, please complete the online registration form with the links provided. The referral links below will be active from Monday, Nov. 11, at 8 a.m. through Friday, Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m.

TAG Referral Form – English
TAG Referral Form – Spanish

The campus MUST receive the completed online registration form with parent/guardian permissions to screen a student for services. December 13 is a hard deadline for families to submit the online form – late entries will not be accepted.

Please keep a copy of the confirmation email that you receive for your records. If you do NOT receive a confirmation email, please contact your campus TAG specialist (elementary) or campus counselor (secondary). They will be able to confirm receipt of your online submission.

Hopefully, you were able to attend a campus information meeting about the Round Rock ISD TAG referral process. These slides are being provided for those families that were unable to take part in these sessions.

TAG Referral Information – English
TAG Referral Information – Spanish

Your campus TAG specialist (elementary) or campus counselor (secondary) can also help guide you through this process if you need assistance.

** NOTE: Only students who are CURRENTLY ENROLLED in Round Rock ISD are able to register for the TAG Testing process. If you are planning on a move to the district, but your child is not enrolled yet, please contact the campus so they can advise you of your options.

Identification

Each year Round Rock ISD has open registration to refer a student for gifted services screening. Our service model provides an array of learning opportunities for students who show advanced ability or potential in comparison to students of the same age, experience, and environment.

The referral window for students to be considered for gifted services is from November 11, 2024 through December 13, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. You will find the registration link on the Round Rock ISD TAG website. On the morning of November 11th at 8:00 a.m. the links will be live and you can submit registration requests. After completing the online form, you will receive email confirmation of your referral for gifted services. Please keep a copy of the confirmation email for your records.

These slides are being provided for those that are unable to attend a campus meeting for information.
TAG Referral Information – English
TAG Referral Information – Spanish
Your elementary TAG specialist or secondary TAG counselor can also help guide you through this process if you need assistance.

** NOTE: Only students who are CURRENTLY ENROLLED in Round Rock ISD are able to register for the TAG Testing process. If you are planning on a move to the District, but your child is not enrolled yet, please contact the campus elementary TAG Specialist or secondary TAG counselor so they can advise you of your options.

Identification Timeline

Out of District Transfer

English & Spanish

Summer Testing

English & Spanish

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TAG Line Blog

Frequently Asked Questions

What is talent development?

Talent development is our first tier of gifted services. At this level of service, students are clustered with other students identified for gifted services and are placed with a teacher who has the training in teaching gifted that is required by the state. Talent development ensures that all identified elementary students complete Advanced Level Products and Performances as required in the state goal for gifted services. This enrichment opportunity is the only service in grades K-2. Talent Development is not available in grades 6-12.

When can I have my child assessed for a need for gifted services?

Each October, campuses will hold a parent information session to go over the identification process and service models. During November and December is our annual referral for testing. At this time, any parent, administrator, counselor, or teacher can refer the student for the identification process. This testing is for any student who is currently enrolled in Round Rock ISD and is not currently identified for gifted services. Once the referrals are closed, campuses will conduct the assessment process January through March.

Is accelerated math instruction part of gifted services?

Beginning in 3rd grade, accelerated math instruction is provided for those who show a need for service. There are multiple pathways for receiving this instruction through gifted services. One in which a student will take Algebra 1 in 7th grade and one in which the student will take Algebra in 8th. Both of these are accelerated in comparison to the regular curriculum. This flowchart shows the multiple options for identified students to take advantage of as they progress through the grade levels.

TAG Math Pathways Flowchart

Does my student have to wait for the annual testing opportunity if they are newly enrolled in Round Rock ISD and were previously identified for gifted services in the sending school?

When you arrive in Round Rock ISD, please let the registrar know that your child previously received gifted services. You will need to provide documentation that the student was receiving services and what those services were. Also, you will need to provide any testing that was used in that placement decision or tests from nationally normed tests. These documents will be reviewed by the campus committee and then will either be placed in equivalent services to what they were previously receiving or the student will be asked to take the Round Rock ISD assessments because the data provided was not equivalent to acceptance in our program.

My student currently receives gifted services, but I want them to be considered for other subject areas?

Once a student is identified for gifted services, you do NOT need to refer your student for further testing. You can let your TAG Specialist or counselor know of your interest for adding subjects. In elementary school, this process happens at the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters. TAG specialists will review the child’s work and assessments, collaborate with teachers, and will notify if any additional testing is needed to make decisions. In secondary the process is similar, but occurs in early spring before schedule requests are made for the following year.

In elementary, why are math services delivered differently than language arts, social studies and science?

Of the four core subjects, math is the only one that is based primarily on acceleration and has an entirely different curriculum that compacts Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills from future grade levels into the curriculum. For the remaining three content areas, these services can be delivered in a variety of ways because they are NOT accelerated (going into curriculum for the next year), but rather enriched through depth and complexity, questioning, and grouping strategies. These services may be facilitated by the homeroom teacher who is TAG trained or the TAG specialist.

How can my student be identified for gifted services in one school district, but not in another?

The state allows school districts to define their own gifted services and how they choose to identify those services based on a student who is advanced in relation to students of the same age, experience, and environment. Essentially, we are looking for those who are outliers in their given population. Some districts focus on creativity, while others like Round Rock ISD focus on general intellectual ability.

What is “universal screening?”

Universal screening is when we use a measure to look at ALL of the students in a group regardless of whether they have been referred for testing. This happens twice in Round Rock ISD. In Kindergarten, we consider all students by providing enrichment opportunities through planned experiences in the fall in every Kindergarten classroom. Additionally, every second grade student is given a cognitive abilities test that is not only used to look for students who might benefit from gifted services, it is also used to help look for students in other special programs, and to drive instruction in the regular education classroom.

My student didn’t qualify for gifted services, how can I meet their unique needs?

Round Rock ISD offers a wide variety of enrichment programs to meet the needs of all learners before and after the school day. Check with your individual campus to see what programs they are offering or visit the Round Rock ISD Enrichment web page.

Gifted Characteristics

That may indicate a need for Gifted Services

– Learn more about Gifted Characteristics –

Gifted Characteristics: Problem Solving & Reasoning Ability

Get Involved

Talented & Gifted Parent Advisory Council (TAGPAC)

Parent Resources

TAGPAC Campus Roster

STATE GOAL FOR SERVICES FOR GIFTED/TALENTED STUDENTS
Students who participate in services designed for gifted/talented students will demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communication as evidenced by the development of innovative products and performances that reflect individuality and creativity and are advanced in relation to students of similar age, experience, or environment. High school graduates who have participated in services for gifted/talented students will have produced products and performances of professional quality as part of their program services.

Contact Us

Michelle Swain

Gifted and Advanced Academic Services Director

512-464-5023

Michelle Moak

Gifted and Advanced Academics Coordinator

512-464-5195

Melissa Vasquez

Gifted and Advanced Academics Coordinator

512-464-5925

Campus TAG Contacts