Pinellas County
Schools
Talent Identification
Program
Parent Informational
Meeting
November 18, 2016
Presented by Ms. Warwick at
Dunedin Highland Middle
School
PCS District Strategic Plan
• Strategic Goal #1: Increase Student Achievement resulting in
improvements for every school (A, B, C Grade) and learning gains,
higher promotional (each level) and graduation rates.
• Action #12: Increase participation of Pinellas Talented Identification
Program to 800 7th grade students while also increasing the number
who sit for the SAT exam and participate in the Summer TIPS
program.
Pinellas County Schools
Talent Identification Program
• What is the purpose of this program?
– Identification of academically talented middle school
students (specifically targeting 7th grade students)
– Assist students and parents/guardians to develop collegepreparatory academic plans for 8th grade and beyond into
high school
– Provide valuable practice to students before they take the
PSAT and SAT in high school to qualify for National Merit
Scholarship opportunities and college entrance!
The Challenge to raise the bar
• The 21st century global economy is fast-paced and
changeable. Students need a new set of skills – and a habit
of lifelong learning – to flourish in this information age. The
best way to succeed and thrive as an adult is to challenge
yourself to rise to a high level of academic excellence now.
Students will do that best by taking challenging high school
courses and working hard in them.
• The SAT provides a trusted, globally recognized indicator of
academic readiness for college. In a way, the SAT is the
bridge between the hard work a students have already done
and the college that is the best fit for the future they are
about to create.
Why Take the SAT?
• As the nation’s most widely used college
admission test, the SAT is the first step toward
higher education for students of all backgrounds.
It’s taken by more than two million students
every year and is accepted by virtually all
colleges and universities.
What benefits will students
receive from participating?
• Students are selected to take the SAT because they have
each scored at higher levels on a normed, standardized
achievement test.
• Once the students have individual SAT scores, each student
can be advised about his ability in math and language arts.
• Using the SAT score reports, school administrators and
teachers are able to adjust course content and instructional
pacing to challenge the students, allowing bright students
more opportunities to realize their academic potential.
About the SAT
The SAT is changing in some ways, but these things
are staying the same:
• It’s accepted by almost all U.S. colleges.
• It’s typically taken by students in the spring
semester of 11th grade and again in the fall
semester of 12th grade.
• SAT scores and high school GPA are a powerful
combination. Used together, there’s nothing better
at predicting potential college success.
Quick Facts about the SAT
• 4 parts: Reading, Writing and Language, Math, and
the optional SAT Essay
• 400–1600 score scale
• 3 hours and 50 minutes with the SAT Essay — or 3
hours without it
• 4 answer choices for multiple choice questions
How were students identified?
• The TOP 10% of students within each school’s 7th grade
class as measured by their performance on the 2015
ELA & Math Florida Standards Assessment data.
• 7th grade students who are academically talented!
What will happen with Pinellas
County TIP students?
• Students who return the purple commitment form:
– Will be provided the opportunity to sit for the
SAT examination on March 5, 2016.
– Will receive test preparation for the reading and
mathematics portions of the SAT
– Will have the opportunity to engage in college
readiness experiences through a camp
occurring in the summer of 2016.
2015-16 SAT Administration
Dates and Deadlines
SAT Date
SAT Subject Tests
Available
Registration Deadline
March 5, 2016
SAT Subject Tests not
offered on this date
PCS Timeline January 27,
2016
Actual Deadline
Feb. 5, 2016
Pinellas County 7th grade students should plan to test at
one of the following sites:
• John Hopkins Middle School – Test Center Code: 10066
• Oak Grove Middle School – Test Center Code: 10065
• Safety Harbor Middle School – Test Center Code: 10063
• Seminole Middle School – Test Center Code: 10480
• Eastlake Middle School – Test Center Code: 10733
Which Middle Schools are Testing
Centers?
•
•
•
•
•
John Hopkins Middle School – Test Center Code: 10066
Oak Grove Middle School – Test Center Code: 10065
Safety Harbor Middle School – Test Center Code: 10063
Seminole Middle School – Test Center Code: 10480
Eastlake Middle School – Test Center Code: 10733
When completing the application please be sure to indicate
your Test Center Code (see above for each middle school site).
Registering Special
Circumstances
• Due to Internet privacy laws, our 7th grade students
cannot register online.
– To register for the SAT, obtain a Registration Guide packet
with registration form from the Gifted Office. Complete the
form, submit a copy of it to the Gifted Office and mail the
original with payment to the College Board.
• Applications will be provided after the commitment
form is returned to the school.
Cost for Testing
• Selected students will pay the $43.00
testing fee that the College Board charges
for the SAT. The district has
recommended that the students “opt out”
of the essay portion. Regular fee is
$54.50
• Parents are responsible for the cost of
testing.
Photo Requirements
Students must provide a photo when registering for the
SAT. The photo will be part of your Admission Ticket and
will be checked against their photo ID on test day to
ensure security. If not student ID is available a Student ID
form can be completed as the entrance requirement.
Acceptable Photo Checklist
You can use recent photos — like school pictures or passport photos — or take a new one. Just make sure they
meet these requirements:
•
•
•
•
•
You’re easy to recognize.
You’re the only one in the picture.
There’s a head-and-shoulders view, with the entire face, both eyes, and hair
clearly visible; head coverings worn for religious purposes are allowed.
You’re in focus.
There are no dark spots or shadows.
SAT Practice
• https://www.khanacademy.org/sa
Khan Academy
Our mission is to provide a free, world-class education for
anyone, anywhere.
A personalized learning resource for all ages
• Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos,
and a personalized learning dashboard that empower
learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the
classroom. We tackle math, science, computer programming,
history, art history, economics, and more. Our math missions
guide learners from kindergarten to calculus using state-ofthe-art, adaptive technology that identifies strengths and
learning gaps.
Other things to consider:
• TUTORIAL SCHEDULE:
 There will be 10 tutoring session held
here at DHMS.
 Tutor sessions will begin in January
2016.
 Sessions will be held after school.
 Students will be provided with face to
face and online opportunities to practice.
Tutoring Schedule
MONDAY
Jan. 11th
Jan.
18th
Jan. 25th
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Jan. 12th
Jan. 13th
Jan. 14th
Dr. Applebaum
Ms. Mudd
Jan.
19th
Jan. 20th
Dr. Applebaum
Ms. Mudd
Jan. 26th
Jan. 27th
Dr. Applebaum
Ms. Mudd
Jan. 21st
Jan. 28th
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Feb. 1st
Feb. 2nd
Feb. 3rd
Feb. 4th
Dr. Applebaum
Ms. Mudd
Feb. 9th
Feb. 10th
Dr. Applebaum
Ms. Mudd
Feb. 16th
Feb. 17th
Feb. 8th
Feb. 15th
Feb. 11th
Feb. 18th
Tutoring will be
after school from
4:15-5:15pm in
room 3-205 (Ms.
Angelo’s room) on
the highlighted
days. It is optional
to attend, but
helpful for the
students SAT
preparation.