FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Look below for answers to the following questions:

1. Why is the GT Program called W.I.N.G.S.?
2. How is a child placed in the W.I.N.G.S. Program?
3. If my child is identified as Gifted and Talented in another district or state, will he/she automatically be placed in the WISD W.I.N.G.S. Program?
4. What criteria does the committee consider for placement in the W.I.N.G.S. Program?
5. If my child is placed in W.I.N.G.S., will he/she stay in the program when a school change is made within WISD?
6. Is there a difference between Pre-AP and GT classes?
7. Are there opportunities for parents to become involved in the W.I.N.G.S. program?

Why is the GT Program called W.I.N.G.S.?

The acronym W.I.N.G.S. stands for Wylie’s Inquisitive & Naturally Gifted Students.

How is a child placed in the W.I.N.G.S. Program?

Students must be nominated for the W.I.N.G.S. Program. Anyone who interacts with the child may nominate him or her for the W.I.N.G.S. Program. The child may even nominate him/herself. Although there are cut-off dates for testing, nominations are accepted year-round.

If my child is identified as Gifted and Talented in another district or state, will he/she automatically be placed in the WISD W.I.N.G.S. Program?

No. The testing data from the student’s previous district will be reviewed by the Advanced Academics Coordinator and additional testing will be provided, if necessary, to determine the best placement for the student. At the end of this process, identified students will be placed in the W.I.N.G.S. Program and their cumulative folders will be updated accordingly.

What criteria does the committee consider for placement in the W.I.N.G.S. Program?

Four areas of achievement are considered.
• Quantitative Performance—the students in the WISD W.I.N.G.S. Program typically place in the top 5% of students on nationally-normed testing.
• Portfolio—gifted students are typically innovative creators.
• Problem Solving—W.I.N.G.S. students generally approach problems in unconventional ways and come up with solutions and products that are outside of a normal framework.
• Teacher Rating Inventory—this does not reflect grades achieved, rather an intensity that is demonstrated by a student when he/she is “on task”, a passion for a topic or learning in general.

If my child is placed in W.I.N.G.S., will he/she stay in the program when a school change is made within WISD?

Yes. Once a child is determined by a campus GT committee to require the services of the WISD Gifted and Talented Program, these services will continue when he/she moves from elementary school to intermediate school, from intermediate school to junior high school, and from junior high school to high school, or from one campus to another within the district.

Is there a difference between Pre-AP and GT classes?

Yes. Pre-AP classes are designed to prepare students for the demands of Advanced Placement courses available in high school. The pace of instruction is faster than academic classes, and students are expected to go into greater depth in content.
While GT classes prepare students for the rigors of an AP class, they also have curricula specifically designed to meet the academic needs of gifted and talented students. Learning is project-based, emphasizes open-ended problem solving, and requires students to generalize the vast amount of knowledge they already have to the topics being studied. Very little time is spent on repetition. Students are expected to spend the majority of their time analyzing and evaluating content and creating new perspectives and products. These are not “honors” classes; there are expectations for high level products and processing of information. The homework in these classes may prove to be more time-consuming. Although class time is given to complete projects, students in these classes typically strive for “perfection” and will therefore bring more work home to finish.
Both pre-AP and GT classes cover all areas detailed in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

Are there opportunities for parents to become involved in the W.I.N.G.S. program?

Absolutely! Contact your campus GT teacher or the Advanced Academics Coordinator.