Curriculum and Instruction / Talented and Gifted (TAG) / Middle School TAG Center Program

Middle School TAG Center Program

For MSDE Parent Resources, click here.
For the Talented and Gifted Programs Brochure, click English, Spanish, and French.

TAG SERVICES IN ATTENDANCE AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL

The TAG services at the middle school level is an in-class Honors program.

The following standards should be in place for a successful program:

1. Honors Grouping - TAG students should be grouped together for instruction in English, social studies, and science classes. Placement in mathematics classes as determined by meeting the prerequisites for the courses, as outlined by the Mathematics Department.

2. Honors Curriculum - The Honors curriculum extensions are developed by the content area departments in English, social studies, and science and is implemented in these classes. TAG students should be enrolled in the mathematics class for which they demonstrate readiness.

3. Twice-exceptional learners may be scheduled in an Academic Resource Support Class - Honors Course, if specified in IEP.

Parents:

If you applied to the lottery and have questions regarding the status of your child's placement, please log into your Prince George's County Schools Family Dashboard Account: https://pgcpsmdc.scriborder.com

If your child has received placement into the TAG Center Program via lottery, please register at pgcpsmdc.scriborder.com. If you have any questions please contact the TAG Center Coordinators at your specific TAG Center for assistance.

School	TAG Coordinator	Email Address
Accokeek Academy	Leon McCants	leon.mccants@pgcps.org
Benjamin Tasker MS (Grades 6 and 7)	Janet Clarke-Green	janet.clarke@pgcps.org
Greenbelt Middle School	Tracey Thisse	tracey.thisse@pgcps.org
Kenmoor Middle School	Beth Novick	bnovick@pgcps.org
Walker Mill Middle School	Nadine Gaujean	nadine.gaujean@pgcps.org

The TAG Center Middle School Program is designed to meet the

unique needs of highly able students in a full-day setting.

Components of the program includes:

Full-day instructional program
Full-time coordinator at each site
Trained teachers selected for their interest and experience working with TAG students
Extracurricular and enrichment opportunities (vary by school)
Accelerated Course Sequence in Math that includes Algebra I and Geometry for some students.
Implementation of Kaplan's Depth and Complexity Model across content areas.
Enriched approach to Social Studies, including participation in the National History Day research process
World Language instruction

Enriched approach to language arts including use of the following:

Updated 2016-2017 Honors Curriculum
William & Mary Units for Highly Able Learners
Junior Great Books Shared Inquiry

International Baccalaureate Continuity

Information for TAG Center Middle School Students

Diploma Programme

What is IB?

The International Baccalaureate (IB) programme is a globally recognized education program which prepares students for the 21st century by developing, inquiring, caring, and knowledgeable young people who help to create a better, more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The high school IB programmes in Prince George’s County Public Schools begin in 9th and 10th grades with a Pre-Diploma Programme (PDP) courses in English, World Languages, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. During these first two years, students are prepared for the rigor of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) beginning in the 11th grade and culminating in the 12th grade.

To achieve the prestigious IB diploma, students must score (4 out of 7) on each of the six required subject exams and complete the Diploma Programme Core requirements. The Diploma Programme Core comprises of a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, a community service project--Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), and report their independent research in an extended essay.

For additional information on IB, visit www.ibo.org and IB Program Brochure.

Among the benefits of the IB Programme are:

higher university acceptance rates for IB applicants than for total population of applicants;
opportunities to earn college credit and advanced standing at worldwide institutions;
increased scholarship and grant opportunities;
rigorous academic program that truly prepares students for college;
emphasis on international mindedness and a course of study that encourages and models lifelong learning skills; and
access to highly qualified and trained IB teachers.

More information about IB schools in PGCPS, visit http://www.pgcps.org/ib/.

Continuity to IB Program means that TAG Center students, who successfully completed the criteria below, are eligible to participate in a district IB DP without having to complete an application packet.

Requirements for TAG Continuity:

completion of TAG Center Middle School Program;
3.0 GPA in Core Courses (Reading English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, US History, and World Language); and
Level 1 of World Language (preferably Spanish, French, or Chinese) and Math 8 Honors or higher.
TAG students who meet these requirements have a guaranteed placement into the preparation phase for the IB DP in 9th and 10th grades.
No continuity exists for formal entry into the IB DP for 11th and 12th grades. An application and interview will be needed at the IB school.

Timeline:

December TAG Center Middle School student record review will be completed

February Pupil Accounting and School Boundaries will distribute letters regarding program options

March Deadline to accept an IB placement at your designated/boundary IB school

April/May Registration by High School counselor or IB DP Coordinator for those students committing to IB

April/May Placement in IB PDP courses is based on grades/courses in Middle School

Students accepted into the IB Programme will receive transportation.

Expectations of IB PDP Students:

maintain 3.0 GPA;
participation in high school extracurricular activities (sports or academic);
participation in service activities while in high school;
remain in the IB boundary; and
application/interview for entry into IB DP in 11th grade (continuity is not guaranteed).

For more information about the IB Programme, please contact 301-808-8275.

For more information about the Talented and Gifted Center Program (TAG), please contact Theresa Jackson, Supervisor of TAG Programs, tjackson@pgcps.org, 301-808-3790.