New AIG Coordinators’Orientation

September 2011

Sneha Shah-Coltrane, State Consultant, AIG

Why we are here…• The General Assembly believes that public

schools should challenge all students to aim for academic excellence. Article 9B AIG mandate.

• Every public school student will graduate from high school, globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and prepared for life in the 21st century. SBE

• All of us here believe that the needs of AIG learners must be met.

Current Educational Landscape• NCLB does not specifically address AIG students,

focus on proficiency; new requested waiver.• Standards movement has moved to Assessment-

driven.• Equity and excellence are still seen as

dichotomies.• Tensions exist between traditional and innovative.• Racial disparities have not been abated (gap,

disproportionality, etc.)• Competing values of standardization and

personalization.• STEM, Globalization, Economic Needs• Myths about gifted!

Our Roles• State Consultant: To advocate for the needs of AIG students in public schools by providing leadership,

guidance and technical assistance regarding AIG issues, policies and practices to multiple stakeholders, including LEAs, families, IHEs, DPI, and other related organizations.

• LEA Coordinator: Your thoughts…

Current State of AIG in NC• Article 9B, legislation to ID, serve, write local plans• NC AIG Program Standards• Over 160,000 students identified, more served• Local AIG Plans – Fifth Generation

– Next due in 2013– Interim Reports this year– Evidence-Based Reviews, still under planning

• 112 LEAs have “Complete” Local AIG Plans(115)

• 8 AIG Roundtable Regions, active• Close to $70 million in state funding, also local• AIG Licensure

Historical Perspective

Review the NC AIG Program Standards, share observations regarding history of AIG in our state.

NC AIG Program StandardsBackground Information• History: NC has had legislation related to AIG, close to fifty

years. No federal legislation. • Current: Article 9B, N.C.G.S. § 115C-150.5-.8, mandates

identification and services for AIG students; local plans to be written; and provides a state definition.

• State Audit: May 2007–January 2008, DPI-AIG/EC audited. Major recommendations were:– Clarify monitoring of programs: increase accountability; develop

performance standards, evidence-based; clarify process, done regularly– Clarify budget allocations/transfers

• AIG Program Standards: Adopted by SBE, July 2009. Guides local AIG Programs and Plans.

Gifted Education in North CarolinaLed by…

• Article 9B, 1996, N.C.G.S. § 115C-150.5 – State Definition– State mandate to ID & Serve (K-12)– Local plan required per LEA for K-12 – Local plan approved by LEA School Board– Local plan is in effect for three years– Local Plan reviewed by DPI with

comments/recommendations; sent back to LEA

State Definition of AIG StudentsArticle 9B (N.C.G.S. § 115C-150.5)

• Academically or intellectually gifted (AIG) students perform or show the potential to perform at substantially high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experiences or environment. Academically or intellectually gifted students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual areas, specific academic fields, or in both the intellectual areas and specific academic fields. Academically or intellectually gifted students require differentiated educational services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular educational program. Outstanding abilities are present in students from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor. (Article 9B, 1996, N.C.G.S. § 115C-150.05).

AIG State Funding (PRC 034 funds)• The General Assembly funds all LEAs for AIG programming.  All

LEAs receive PRC 034 funds regardless of the number of identified AIG students.  LEAs receive funds based on 4% of ADM, if at least 4% is identified. These funds are allocated as part of the general student allocation from DPI. ABCs Transfer Law remains in effect.

• GA passed for FY 10-11 the per pupil allocation for AIG as $1192.90. The apparent increase took into account personnel benefits adjustments.

• For 2010-11, LEAs have received close to $70 million in state funds.

• GA passed has maintained the same allocation for 2011-12 even amidst our economic status.

• NC is in the top funded states in US** NAGC’s State of the States, 2006-07, 2008-09

Use of State PRC 034 Funds:Based on the Program Standards and Article 9B, state AIG

funds are intended to be used explicitly for:• AIG students, AIG programs and services, and AIG plan and

program implementation. Including:– AIG teachers, who are licensed or are currently enrolled in

licensure programs.– AIG teacher resources and development– AIG student resources and development– AIG family resources and development– AIG teacher and regular education professional

development– Nurturing Programs to cultivate high potential/AIG– Referral, screening and identification support

May be transferred per request of your Superintendent, based on legislation. KNOW YOUR BUDGET!!!!

The NC AIG Program Standards will help to…

• Guide LEAs to develop, coordinate, and implement thoughtful and comprehensive AIG programs.

• First major step in building a statewide framework for quality and comprehensive local AIG programs, while honoring local context and flexibility.

• Better meet the academic, intellectual, social, and emotional needs of gifted learners.

• Optimally develop AIG students’ potential.

Re-visioning of Local AIG Plans and Programs• Newly developed plans have been approved

by LBEs and sent to DPI. • Phase 1 Desk Reviews are being completed

now. Phase 2 Evidence-based reviews 2012• Several revision opportunities for COMPLETE

status.• See Program Review Overview handout.• These plans are for 2010-2013.• Next plan due Summer 2013.

AIG Program Reviews 2010…

Phase One• August 2010, by Experts not

solely peers• Document review of

submitted AIG plan; Built shared understanding.

• Basic comments on submission guidelines

• Comments returned in more timely manner, legislated

Phase Two, DRAFT• Overtime• Reviews based on synthesized

evidence from LEA• Comprehensive feedback with

ratings for overall standards using the same categories as the new teacher evaluations

• Credit for improvement• Will be made public, overall LEA

evaluation • Based on conference with DPI

in regions over 6 yearsMid-Point/Interim

Progress Report

“monitoring

regularly” 2.12

Details Regarding Plan Development• All practices were designated as Maintained, Focused or

Future. Certain fields were completed based on the categories. Rationales were constant.

• Fields include: Rationale, Goals, Description, Sources of Evidence, Comments, Appendix.

• Draft outline flowchart. Based on Self-Assessment.

• Online. Pilot for APEX team. LEAs understanding, DPI support were great. Used as pilot for already 12 other major deployments. https://schools.nc.gov/aigplan

• Print version urged to use, since these will be posted.

Local AIG Plans: Next Steps

• Know your plan! Dynamic, Guiding Force for implementation of 6 years

• Interim Report based on Focused Practice updates

• Self-monitoring, continuous• Evidence-Based Reviews, forthcoming• Next plan – July 2013

NC AIG Program StandardsSYNERGY!

AIG LEARNERS

AIG Program Standards• Student Identification

– The LEA’s student identification procedures for AIG are clear, equitable, and comprehensive and lead towards appropriate educational services.

• Differentiated Curriculum and Instruction– The LEA employs challenging, rigorous, and relevant curriculum and

instruction K-12 to accommodate a range of academic, intellectual, social, and emotional needs of gifted learners.

• Comprehensive Programming within a Total School Community– The LEA provides an array of K-12 programs and services by the total school

community to meet the diverse academic, intellectual, social, and emotional needs of gifted learners.

cont’ AIG Program Standards• Personnel and Professional Development

– The LEA recruits and retains highly qualified professionals and provides relevant and effective professional development concerning the needs of gifted learners that is on-going and comprehensive.

• Partnerships– The LEA ensures on-going and meaningful participation of

stakeholders in the planning and implementation of the local AIG program to develop strong partnerships.

• Program Accountability– The LEA implements, monitors, and evaluates the local AIG program

and plan to ensure that all programs and services are effective in meeting the academic, intellectual, social, and emotional needs of gifted learners.

Initial thinking about the Standards.

Initial questions about the Standards.

Synthesis of AIG Program StandardsWords from the LEAs themselves• Shared Responsibility for school/LEA.• Not just gifted for half-hour/day!• Connect with other programs.• Social and emotional needs too.• All types of gifted, under-represented too.• Families need to be in the loop, don’t assume.• Professional Development for all• Data. Meaningful data.• Gifted: no longer the forgotten!• Purposeful and intentional.• What and if we do, matters. Backbone now!

AIG Child Count in NC WISE• Indicate whether a student is identified specifically as AIG Math-only, AIG

Reading-only or AIG Both (math and reading); hence, there are three different codes now, AM, AR, AG.

• Show all students who have been entered in NC WISE previously as AIG Both (code AG). If a student is only identified in one area, the student’s identification will need to be changed to more accurately reflect needs.

• Indicate twice-exceptional students in NC WISE with both AIG and the EC identifiers.

• Provide LEAs with three new Reporting Hub reports to assist with this transition, including an error-check report of students who may have been entered in more than one area.

• Due this upcoming year on April 30, 2011.

• Benefits: More accurate and comprehensive reporting system.

How can I use my LEA’s Child Count Report?

Legislation/Policies Related to AIG• Article 9B – AIG Students, N.C.G.S. 115C-

150.5-.8.• Article 25 – Admission of Students, Early

Admission, N.C.G.S. 115C-364(d).• Huskins Bill – Community Colleges for high

school, N.C.G.S. 115D-20(4). Revised Intellectually Gifted and Mature Students, Under Age 16, N.C.G.S 115D-1.1.

• High School Courses in Middle School, SBE• GCS-M-001

Institutions of Higher Education offering AIG Add-On Licensure and/or

Graduate Programs in Gifted Education• Appalachian State • Barton College• Campbell University • Duke University• East Carolina University• Elon University • High Point University• Mars Hill College• Meredith College

• Methodist College• NC Central University• UNC-Charlotte• UNC-Pembroke• UNC-Wilmington• Western Carolina

University• Wingate University

8.09/SSC

In NC, a teacher can earn an add-on AIG license through an accredited Institute of Higher Education. Programs are generally 12 semester hours of credit; some offer graduate programs.

DPI AIG Website http://dpi.state.nc.us/academicservices/gifted/

Other Related Topics• NCVPS• AP/IB• Early Admittance to K• Career and College Promise! 1.2011

(Dual/Huskins)• High School in Middle School• Governor’s School• NC School of the Arts• NCSSM

To Dos - Review• Make your plan come alive!!• Know your LEA’s Plan and Program• Know your schools, students• Understand your LEA’s budget• Maintain data, understand data• Advocate – LBE, PAGE, Schools, Administration• Part of Regions, attend and participate• Seek out Prof Dev

– ECU, NCAGT, etc.

• Keep in touch

NC leading in gifted education…

• National leader in funding, policies, and legislation!

• State AIG Program Standards• Governor’s School, NCSSM, NCSArts,

NCVPS, AP State Fee Grant • NCAGT, NAGC, PAGE, Duke TIP, AAGC• IHE Consortium • Dedicated and high quality professionals• Now you!!!

We must synergize our efforts to ensure that the potential of all AIG learners is optimized!

Sneha Shah-Coltrane, AIG State ConsultantNC Department of Public InstructionAcademic Services and Instructional Support6307 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, NC 27699-6307(919) 807-3849sshahcoltrane@dpi.state.nc.us