School E-Newsletter
Spring 2010
| Spotlight | Learn how educators across the country are making the most of what CTY has to offer. | |
| What's New | New services and features from CTY. | |
| Final Notes | Other information from CTY you won't want to miss. | |
Budget Cuts Don't Have to Spell Diminished Opportunities for Thousands of Students
Last year, when CTY contacted Marcia DiJiosia, Director of the Gifted and Talented Education Department for the San Diego Unified School District, Ms. DiJiosia didn’t know much about CTY. “We’d been getting materials before, but a lot wasn’t known about it really,” she says.
But after she and her staff saw a presentation outlining the possibility of above-grade-level testing for the district’s brightest students; fun, educational outings that entire families can share; and advanced coursework for students with eligible scores, Ms. DiJiosia knew that thousands of her families might want to explore these opportunities. The question became how to spread the word to so many families. Soon, the latest in a series of district budget and staff cuts made it hard to even think about a new project. So, with CTY’s help, she improvised.
Rather than mailing directly to students’ homes, “We put out a flier to the schools in the hopes that they’d get to parents,” she says, and used an automated e-mail and phone call system to invite the families of the district’s 25,000 students already identified as accelerated learners to one of three meetings.
The response was overwhelming. “We had an unbelievable turnout,” says DiJiosia, “more than standing-room only. People were in the hallways outside the auditorium.” The district provided child care free of charge and translators for Spanish-speaking parents, and families learned about the benefits of above-grade-level testing, the fact that CTY could host test sessions at district schools and that, every year, CTY offers millions of dollars in financial aid. “Parents kept thanking me for bringing this to our district.”
“They were thrilled to know [CTY] existed,” says DiJiosia, and they followed through. Four hundred-seventy students registered for special test sessions held at two district schools on two consecutive weekends.
We are proud of the strong relationship that has been established between CTY and San Diego Unified School District to provide greater opportunities for the district’s students. If your school or district would like to learn more about what CTY can offer your best students, contact Senior Program Managers Neetu Dhawan-Gray (neetu@jhu.edu) or Dinorah Olmos (dolmos1@jhu.edu).
It's Not Too Late to Participate in this Year's Talent Search or Apply for a Summer Course with CTY
Even as we approach the final weeks of the school year, there's still time for students in grades two through six to participate in this year's Talent Search with just three steps: register, schedule a test date, then take the test.
Students in grades two through six must register with CTY by June 1 to receive information in time to schedule a sitting of the School and College Abilities Test (SCAT) for June 30, the end of the 2009-2010 Talent Search year, or earlier. Click here to register online with CTY or give us a call with any questions at 410-735-6278. Students in grades seven and eight can get information about applying to take a CTYOnline course this summer by emailing CTYonline@jhu.edu.
The application for the 2010-2011 Talent Search year will be available beginning July 15, 2010 at www.cty.jhu.edu/ts.
Coming Soon: Another Testing Option for Seventh- and Eighth- Graders
Beginning with the 2010-2011 Talent Search, in addition to the SAT and ACT, Talent Search students in grades seven and eight will have the option of taking an advanced version of the School and College Abilities Test to qualify for Awards Ceremonies and academic programs. Families of seventh- and eighth-graders can look for information on this option in the test registration packet they receive after submitting their 2010-2011 Talent Search application.
CTY Webinars
CTY wants to give you and the families you serve convenient opportunities to learn more about our services. One fast, easy way to find out more from the comfort of your office or home is a webinar. A webinar, or online seminar, allows you to listen to a CTY presentation and ask questions from your computer in real time. We’d be happy to tailor a session specifically for your school by scheduling it during a time of your choosing, focusing on the content your families might be most interested in, and allowing you to welcome participants to the session before we begin. To find out more about CTY webinars, contact us.
To see firsthand how easy and informative CTY webinars can be, please join us Wednesday, May 27 at 12 p.m. EDT for a live, online discussion with Dr. Carol Mills, CTY’s director of research and evaluation. Dr. Mills will offer tips and answer your questions about getting the most out of your CTY School Report, your report on how students at your school performed on CTY’s above-grade-level tests. You can sign up here.
School reports. By now, you will have received a report with the scores of students from your school who tested with CTY between July 2009 and March 15, 2010 and who agreed to share scores with their school. Look for a follow-up report this summer with the scores of all of your students who tested this year and agreed to score sharing.
Information packet order cards. As you prepare for the 2010-2011 school year, we want to make it easy for you to get families the information they’ll need. Look for CTY information packet order cards pre-filled with your school’s name and CTY school code this month. Just write in how many information packets you’ll need, and mail it back. There’s absolutely no cost to your school. We pick up the cost of postage and all of the packets are free. You can also skip the card and order online.
All 2010 CTY Awards Ceremonies Held This Fall. During our annual Awards Ceremonies, CTY honors the highest-scoring Talent Search participants in select states and the District of Columbia. Traditionally held in May and June, this year, all Awards Ceremonies will be held in the fall in an effort to include more of those who tested throughout the Talent Search year. Students with qualifying scores will receive an invitation in August. Click here for more information about Awards Ceremonies, including eligibility requirements and a full list of states where the presentations will be held.