ACE Curriculum and Services
Having a child-centered educational program as its primary goal, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District offers a multi-faceted gifted education program. Approximately 10% of the school population is served.
Students identified for gifted and talented in grades K-12 receive services through ACE (Academic Creative Education).
ACE students in grades K-5 are served by classroom teachers who have been trained in the area of gifted education. Teachers of record receive thirty hours of GT training to be certified to instruct ACE students. These teachers are required to complete a yearly six-hour update in the field of gifted and talented.
Counselors serve as the resource person. They work with the teachers of record and the Department of Advanced Academic Services in the identification procedure. Each elementary school has an academic liaison who assists the teacher of record with activities, competitions and parent communication.
Students are cluster grouped to receive instruction in three formats: 1) with other identified students 2) individually and 3) with other students possessing a range of abilities. The ACE cluster groups work with curriculum designed to present learning experiences that add depth, complexity, and pacing commensurate with the abilities of the student.
The ACE Curriculum is aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge Skills (TEKS) and organized around interdisciplinary thematic units that are augmented with depth and complexity. The themes are:
Kindergarten Wonders
1st Grade Patterns
2nd Grade Change
3rd Grade Relationships
4th Grade Systems
5th Grade Structures
In addition to differentiation through the core curriculum, ACE students receive additional services through the William and Mary Curriculum and Junior Great Books.
– William and Mary: Center for Gifted Education
The mission of Advanced Academic Services is to support all students to become self-directed learners using advanced, divergent thinking skills to explore creative possibilities and solutions that enhance productivity for themselves and society.
With this end in mind, the Department of Advanced Academic Services has developed the Elementary ACE Report Card in English and in Spanish. The scoring dimensions that accompany the report card are aligned to the Texas Education Agency Performance Standards and are provided in both English and Spanish. The report card is intended to improve communication with parents and evaluate ACE students' progress each grade reporting period. The report card aligns with the following dimensions of our curriculum and state guidelines:
· Performance Standards/ TEKS
· Depth and Complexity
· Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/ Talented Students
In middle school all gifted and talented ACE students are placed in interdisciplinary seminar (IDS) classes. Pre-Advanced Placement classes are offered in core subject areas, also.
At the high school level, ACE students are offered a variety of identified gifted classes in grades 6-12. Such opportunities include Pre-Advanced Placement classes, Global and World Experience, and Advanced Placement. All 9th grade students are placed in Global Experience classes and 10th graders in World Experience classes. Students may also choose to apply to attend one of the five academies offered in the fields of Biomedical Professions, Media Arts, Math, Engineering, Technology, Science, International Business, or Law and Criminal Justice.
Parent and community involvement is encouraged and is necessary to foster understanding, acceptance and cooperation in providing a successful program. Parents, community and school join in partnership to ensure the success of all students.
All persons interested in gifted education are encouraged to become involved members of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Association of Gifted and Talented. This organization assists parents and members in the following ways:
Providing members information about programs and resources through e-mail and our website
Presenting speaker forums and opportunities for families with gifted students to establish relationships and share information
Informing members about school board or legislative issues that impact gifted education
Co-hosting an annual Spring Symposium on current topics related to gifted education
There is a small fee to join this organization.