TAG Quarterly
A Newsletter for Portland Public Schools Families
Fall Updates
All district second graders will be taking the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3) by the end of November. This assessment is used as a universal screener to identify students who may benefit from TAG services in the area of intellectual ability who have scored in the 95th percentile and above. After second graders complete the assessment, their families are notified via mail and email that they may want to refer their child for TAG identification. A single score does not automatically identify a student as TAG.
Don't wait until conferences to talk to your child's teacher about a TAG referral. You can refer your child at any time between now and the end of November. If your child is already identified, you do not need to re-refer.
The TAG referral is completed through an online form. Visit our website for additional guidance. The form is available in English and the supported languages for PPS.
When to Ask for an Individual TAG Plan
The first step if you feel your child's needs are not being met is to talk to the teacher. Often students do not know what differentiation is happening in the classroom because the teacher creates a seamless learning experience for all students. If your child reports that they are bored, it is important to get the perspective of the teacher to understand the whole picture.
When you contact your child's teacher, start with these questions:
What is my child like in your class? Are there activities they enjoy? What are their strengths?
What parts of the day are challenging for my child? Where do you see room for growth?
How are they doing on assessments (i.e., iReady, MAP, daily work, homework, end of unit assessments, etc.)?
What are some of the activities already set up to challenge students?
Questions? Start with your child's teacher!
Office Hours
The September and October office hours generated many questions about communication, referrals, Single Subject Acceleration, and services.
The Frequently Asked Questions, schedule of office hours, and the link can be found here.
The November theme is TAG Services
TAG Resources
Resources from the Oregon Department of Education: OER Commons TAG Page
PPS District TAG Page (currently under construction)