Talent Development Project Survey

Georgia Association for Gifted Children’s Coalition for Access and Equity

INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this survey is to gather information about what is offered in our
current scope of talent development (TD) programs across the State of Georgia
in order to gain an understanding of the terms, goals, and strategies currently in
place across districts. Not all questions may be applicable to all persons taking
the survey, but please complete to the best of your ability.

Definition of TD: Talent Development is the practice of supporting and guiding

students to grow in their area(s) of strength. It is a component in the educational
continuum for students identified as having high ability and/or achievement in a
particular domain. The primary objective of a Talent Development program is to
advance students’ abilities and talents, thus encouraging outstanding productivity
and contributions to society. Many schools may already implement programming
and practices that serve as talent development, even if those programs and
practices are not currently captured under the TD banner.

Using the information gathered from this survey, we hope to: build a support
system for talent development programs that is consistent and available
statewide; encourage talent development programs at all levels of instruction,
especially in areas where data indicates an underidentification of minority
students in gifted programs; and promote a broader understanding of the
importance of TD as a tool for supporting high-potential and high-ability students.

The survey is a tool created by the GAGC Coalition for Access and Equity, a
group of educators dedicated to identifying and removing barriers to ensure
equitable access to challenging educational opportunities for children of color.
Read more about the coalition HERE

By participating in this survey, you are allowing the information shared about your
district to be used anonymously for a report prepared by the GAGC Coalition for
Access and Equity. This report will be distributed to all gifted education specialists in
Georgia's districts to be used in program improvement.

RATIONALE:
In February 2015 the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) created a
task force on talent development for the purpose of researching, discussing, and
assessing where NAGC is and where it should be going relative to its talent
development emphasis. Likewise, the Georgia Association for Gifted Children
(GAGC) is working to improve talent development. The Coalition for Access and
Equity sees talent development as an essential tool for supporting its mission of
equitable access to challenging and education opportunities for children of color.

General Questions: (2 minutes)

● Name
● School
● District
● Role in district: coordinator, gifted specialist, gifted endorsed teacher,
OTHER
● Grade levels taught: elementary, middle, high school
● Are you a Title I school?
● Is the decision to offer TD a local school decision or a district decision?

PROGRAMMING (5 minutes)
● Does your school/district offer talent development programming? (This
might include (but is not limited to) options such as: small group academic
enrichment, creativity training, child watch programs, programs that identify
potential in underserved communities, homogeneous grouping, clubs,
robotics, stem, debate, leadership, BETA, Saturday programs, Extended
learning time (after school), summer enrichment programs, Advanced
Content or Honors/AP courses.
NOTE: Create a drop down menu and also place for someone to add their own
comments. Please check all that apply
● Are there other programs in your district that you would consider to be TD
programs? If so, what are those programs
● What challenges do you experience in offering or implementing Talent
Development? (finances, time, personnel, lack of training, materials,
district priorities, school priorities) Please explain.
NOTE: Create a drop down menu and also place for someone to add their own
comments. Please check all that apply
 ● Is talent development part of the district’s gifted programming plan?
● How are talent development programs implemented? During school
hours? If so, when (i.e. extended learning, pull out, etc)? At which grade
levels?

● Which teachers implement TD? Gifted teachers only?

NOTE: Create a drop down menu and also place for someone to add their own
comments. Please check all that apply
● Is it part of the curriculum or provided on a push-in basis?
● Considering all programs and practices, how frequently is TD provided?
○ Daily
○ Once a week
○ Twice a week
○ Three days a week
○ Four days a week
○ Monthly
NOTE: Create a drop down menu and also place for someone to add their own
comments. Please check all that apply
● How are students identified for participation?
○ Teacher recommendations
○ Parent recommendations
○ Test scores
○ Self select
○ All students participate
NOTE: Create a drop down menu and also place for someone to add their own
comments. Please check all that apply
● How are TD programs funded?
● Do you have student participation limits, timelines and end dates? Do you
have a percentage cap on participation?

TRAINING (2 minutes)
● What PD is offered related to TD in your school/district?
● Would the district be interested in PD related to Talent Development
through another agency like GAGC?

GOALS (3 minutes)
 ● Does your district have stated goals around TD?
● If so, briefly describe the goals for TD in your school/district?
● If you do not know, would would know the goals for your district? List name
here:

RESULTS/DATA (3 minutes)
● Who collects talent development data in your district?
● Is data used as a screening tool for gifted identification?
● How is data shared with teachers to inform instruction?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
● If there is something you would like to share that was not addressed in this
survey, please share here.