Frequently Asked Questions

For the

Talented and Gifted Endorsement Waiver FAQs

Experience Verification

1. I teach an honors class in math to gifted students. Can I use this experience towards the granting of the waiver?

No.

2. Do I have to have my current administrator sign the experience verification form or can I use an administrator from my past teaching experience?

The form must be signed by your current administrator if you are teaching in a gifted program.

3. If I am not currently teaching in a gifted program, can I have a past administrator verify successful experience in a gifted program?

Yes.

4. What do I do if my experience is in several districts?

You may duplicate the experience verification form to have all of your experience verified.

Administrator Recommendation

5. What should be included in the letter of recommendation from my administrator or evaluator?

Your administrator should provide examples of your knowledge and skills in teaching students in the gifted program based on his/her evaluation.

Artifacts

6. What knowledge and skills should be verified in the waiver?

Consider these competencies as guidance as you select your artifacts and provide your reflections:

  • Understand and know how to recognize the learning differences, developmental milestones, and cognitive/affective characteristics of gifted and talented students, including those from diverse background and the concomitant academic and affective needs these suggest
  • Understand, plan, and implement a range of evidence-based strategies to assess the student and adjust the instruction, content, and assignments for gifted and talented students. The strategies would incorporate learning experiences for higher order (creative and analytic) processing
  • Understand issues in conceptions, definitions, theories, models, and identification of gifted and talented students from the entire K-12 student population

    • 7. What would be some sample artifacts that could be submitted to verify knowledge and skill in the psychology of the gifted?

  • Curriculum that was developed to meet social and emotional needs of students
  • Evidence of collaboration with counselor to meet targeted social and emotional needs of students
  • Evidence of leading training for staff to meet social and emotional needs of students
  • Evidence of collaboration with parents by establishing student learning plans, parent advocacy groups or guided parent discussion groups
  • Evidence of intentionally planned career and college planning such as field trips to investigate colleges and how this information impacts students curriculum choices or seminars for opportunities in underserved content area (take girls to colleges to study math careers)

    • 8. What would be a sample artifact to verify knowledge and skill for programming for the gifted?

  • Individual professional development plan emphasizing programming for the gifted
  • Sample unit for co-teaching-include letters of support and actual modified lessons
  • Curriculum map-show evidence of differentiation for identified gifted students
  • Alignment of services K-12

    • 9. What would be a sample artifact to verify knowledge and skill for administration and supervision of gifted programs?

  • Program evaluation and actions taken to attain goals
  • Leadership responsibilities verified through job description detailing duties related to administering a gifted and talented program & CSIP
  • District or building artifacts-budget, policies developed
  • Organizing for a site visit
  • Advocacy examples
  • Facilitating and presenting talented and gifted professional learning opportunities for staff or parents

    • 10. Can I use the same artifact to verify knowledge and skill of more than one area?

    Yes, you may use the same artifact but you should include a one page reflection for each area to verify how this artifact supports verification of your knowledge and skill in that particular area.

    11. Can I send in staff development transcripts and artifacts to verify meeting one criterion such as the programming for the gifted?

    No, artifacts are only submitted in lieu of staff development course work in an area.

    12. Can I send in all of the curriculum I developed to verify my knowledge and skills?

    No, send in sample artifacts. Inundating the committee with paper is not necessary. Include a one page reflection indicating how this sample artifact verifies your knowledge and skill.

    13. What is a well written reflection?

  • Utilize descriptive writing which enumerates critical features of the artifact
  • Reference artifact and context
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skill in area
  • Explain your involvement
  • Analyze your knowledge and skills (refer to knowledge and skills in question #6)
  • Verify how artifact supports current theories and models of gifted programs

    • General Information

    14. Can all of the teachers in the gifted program at our school send in one packet of information?

    No, each teacher must submit his/her own waiver. You may work together on the materials that will be submitted but each teacher’s waiver is reviewed on an individual basis.

    15. When do I have to submit the waiver?

    The waivers may be submitted until June 1, 2012.

    16. Can I resubmit a waiver if the information that I send in the first time is incomplete or not approved?

    No. If your waiver is not fully approved, then you will be informed of the deficiencies you will need to complete in order to add the endorsement.

    Questions or Comments?