Our recent survey of the AGTS membership concerning future changes and current attitudes about the EBR Gifted and Talented Program generated a total of 117 qualified responses. In general, the membership is strongly supportive of the EBR Program, and the quality of services they receive. However, they are less content about the actual locations where these services are received, and they perceive a bias on the part of the System towards dedicated Magnet Programs in the district.

The specific survey responses are detailed below. More than half the survey forms also contained several written comments which we will summarize later. For each of the survey questions polled here, the mode (or most frequently occurring response) is asterisked (*). We considered that there was a consensus in the responses when any question had a 70% or greater Yes or No response; or for scaled questions, when 70% or greater of the responses were grouped as Positive (Strongly Agree, Agree) or Negative (Neutral, Disagree, and Strongly Disagree). Only a few items did not reach a full consensus given this definition.

The questions which elicited the greatest majority responses included a large “No” vote ((97%) against a pull-out resource program, and high marks for programmatic questions (Safety, Supportive Principals, Welcoming Schools, Gifted Program Impact (all greater than 84% positive). Merging and consolidation of programs, including the merging of the G/T Program with Academic Magnets, did not reach a consensus, but respondents overwhelmingly supported the creation of dedicated separate G/T schools (85%). Also, 76% were not opposed to positive changes to the current G/T program. Other items which did not reach consensus included those related to service learning, textbook availability, transportation services, classroom space and volunteer efforts. All items relating directly to the G/T programmatic issues (IEP, emotional and academic needs being met, report card accuracy, classroom issues, and overall happiness) received high positive responses. When consensus was reached, responses tended to be equitable across all three school levels (Elementary, Middle and High).

While this survey cannot be considered scientific and the sample size is relatively small, the large degree of consensus is probably a good indicator of at least a representative sample. A future survey should be constructed to further define how respondents would change placement (site) of services, in addition to other issues raised by this survey. We invite your review of these current results. Please forward any questions you may have concerning this matter to the e-mail address survey@agts.net.

Thanks to all of you for your thoughtful consideration and valuable input.

--- AGTS Board

Association for Gifted and Talented Students

P.O. Box 14355

Baton Rouge, LA 70898

ANOUT YOUR CHILD:

Grade & Student’s School:

Elementary* 68%

Middle 26%

High School 6%

Home Zip code:

70808* 31%

70810 27%

70817 13%

70809, 70820 etc.

Child’s Exceptionality (Gifted or Talented):

Gifted & Talented* 50%

Gifted 44%

Talented 7%

Number Years in G/T Program:

1 year* 15%

2, 4, 5 years 14%

Others

EXPANSION / REORGANIZATION POSSIBILITIES

I would prefer a resource enrichment “pull-out” gifted program at my child’s home school rather than the current full time academic “self-contained” program at the designated sites as presently established. (Yes / No)

*Overall Response: NO 97.4%**
Elem. 96%	Middle 100%	H.S. 100%

I would support the creation of a dedicated separate Gifted and Talented School designed specifically to meet the unique needs of Gifted and Talented students. (Yes / No)

*Overall Response: YES 85 %**
Elem. 87%	Middle 83%	H.S. 71%

I would support the merging of the Gifted and Talented Program with the Academic Magnet Programs at all dedicated academic magnet sites. (Yes / No)

*Overall Response: YES 60%**
Elem. 59%	Middle 60%	H.S. 67%

I would like to see the current elementary Gifted and Talented programs consolidated to only 2-3 schools distributed between the north, central and southern parts of the parish. (Yes / No)

*Overall Response: YES 59%**
Elem. 57%	Middle 69%	H.S. 43%

I would support consolidating the two current middle school Gifted and Talented programs with the current high school Gifted and Talented program at McKinley High School or some other selected site. (Yes / No)

*Overall Response: NO 58%**
Elem. 58%	Middle 48%	H.S. 29%

I would support consolidating the two current middle school Gifted and Talented programs at a single site.

(Yes / No)

*Overall Response: YES 51%**
Elem. 54%	Middle 48%	H.S. 14%

I will not support any changes to our current Gifted and Talented program.

(Yes / No)

*Overall Response: NO 76%**
Elem. 76%	Middle 76%	H.S. 71%

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

SA=Strongly Agree, A=Agree, N=No Opinion, D=Disagree, SD=Strongly Disagree

I receive IEP Progress Reports on a regular basis.

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

61%* 33% 3% 4% 0%

I feel that I am an important member of my child’s IEP committee. ______

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

41%* 38% 12% 9% 0%

My child’s IEP meets his/her individual learning needs. ______

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

29% 49%* 16% 6% 0%

My child’s emotional needs are being met in the classroom. ____

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

24% 59%* 11% 4% 2%

My child’s academic needs are being met in the classroom. _____

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

38% 50%* 6% 4% 1%

The current report card sufficiently addresses the academic progress

of my child. _____

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

28% 51%* 14% 5% 1%

My child is being sufficiently challenged in the gifted classroom. _____

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

39% 47%* 6% 7% 1%

The homework my child is assigned is beneficial and meaningful. _____

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

33% 54%* 7% 4% 2%

My child has an excessive amount of homework. _____

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

6% 11% 17% 52%* 14%

The gifted/talented program has had a positive impact on my child. _____

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

75%* 23% 0% 3% 0%

My child is happy at school. _____

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

54%* 40% 2% 4% 0%

I feel that service learning, a method of instruction that combines learning with service to the community, would be a positive addition to the curriculum for Gifted and Talented students. _____

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

32% 33%* 17% 11% 7%

The availability of textbooks and technology is adequate

at my child’s school. _____

^{(answer
here)}

SA A N D SD

16%* 50%* 12% 17% 12%

GENERAL INFORMATION

I am satisfied with the transportation services for my child to and from the school site. (Yes / No) ________

*Overall Response: YES 68%**
Elem. 71%	Middle 62%	H.S. 57%

My child feels safe at school. (Yes / No) ________

*Overall Response: YES 88%**
Elem. 87%	Middle 90%	H.S. 86%

I know that the principal at my child’s school is supportive of the gifted program. (Yes / No) ________

*Overall Response: YES 90%**
Elem. 87%	Middle 97%	H.S. 100%

I always feel welcome at my child’s school. (Yes / No) ________

*Overall Response: YES 93%**
Elem. 92%	Middle 93%	H.S. 100%

The environment at my child’s school is clean and conducive to learning. (Yes / No)

*Overall Response: YES 77%**
Elem. 77%	Middle 70%	H.S. 85%

The Gifted Program positively impacts the regular program at my child’s school. (Yes / No) ________

*Overall Response: YES 85%**
Elem. 84%	Middle 89%	H.S. 86%

My school has ample classroom space for students and teachers. (Yes / No)

*Overall Response: YES 63%**
Elem. 61%	Middle 69%	H.S. 57%

Our family volunteers regularly at our school site. (Yes / No) ________

*Overall Response: YES 65%**
Elem. 64%	Middle 63%	H.S. 71%