Instructional Programs for Students

Foundation Curriculum

• Science courses help students acquire knowledge about the natural world and aim at finding out the truth about the world around us. Kindergarten through 8th grade courses cover a wide range of scientific areas including Earth, Life, Physical, and Processes. Courses offered at high school include Integrated Physics and Chemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Science.
• Social Studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. Courses equip students to make informed decisions for the public good as citizens of a diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.Social Studies begins in kindergarten with the study of home and school and progresses through the study of communities to state and national history through 5^th grade. In secondary grades, World Cultures, World Geography, Texas , U.S. European and World History, Government, and Economics are offered.
• English Language Arts prepares students for the increasingly rich media world of today. As receptive listeners, discerning readers, expressive oral readers, and fluent, analytical writers, our students practice the skills required in this dynamic subject . Language Arts is a vital part of every grade level and stresses reading, writing, listening, speaking, and American, British and World literature.
• Mathematics skills are the abilities to use and interpret figures and numbers logically to solve problems. Mathematics spans all grade levels. Instruction stresses number, operation and quantitative reasoning; patterns, relationships and algebraic thinking; geometry and spatial reasoning; measurement; and probability and statistics. Courses offered at the secondary level include Algebra I and II, Geometry, Pre Calculus, and Calculus.

Enrichment Curriculum

• Other languages offered by the LTISD are Spanish, Latin, French, and American Sign Language. Spanish lessons are also taught by volunteers at the elementary level.
• Fine Arts are offered in three areas:
• Visual and Graphic Arts begin as required formal instruction in kindergarten through 5^th grade. In middle and high school, art continues as an elective choice.
• Performing Arts: in middle and high school, dance, theatre and other classes are offered as electives.
• Music is required from kindergarten through 5^th grade. In middle and high school, music continues as elective choices.
• Health: Students acquire information and skills necessary to become healthy adults and learn about behaviors in which they should and should not participate. Health education is integrated into all subjects in kindergarten through 5^th grade. In middle school, health education is taught to 6^th grade students as a stand alone course. Healthy lifestyles instruction is also integrated into all foundation courses. In high school, one semester of health is required of all students.
• Physical Education: Students acquire the knowledge and skills for movement that provide the foundation for enjoyment and continued social development through physical activity and an active lifestyle. P.E. begins as required formal instruction in kindergarten through 5^th grade. In middle school, physical education classes are required each year. In high school, students must complete four semesters of P.E. or a substitute.
• Character Development: As required by the state of Texas , the development of character and citizenship is integrated into all foundation courses for all grade levels as well as being a district, campus, and community focus.

Instructional Programs

• Advanced Academics including the Discovery Program or gifted and talented (GT) students is designed to meet the general intellectual and specific academic needs of the top 20-25% of students in all grades. In elementary schools all teachers are required to provide curriculum and instruction at higher levels of difficulty and complexity. In middle and high school, Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) and Advanced Placement (AP) classes are offered to any student motivated to accept the challenges of more rigorous studies.
• The Discovery Program for students identified as gifted and talented (top 8% of students) is designed to meet the general intellectual, specific academic, and creativity needs of students in all grade levels. Kindergarten through 5^th grade students are served in two ways: clustered within standard classrooms with trained teachers; and through a pull-out program where they spend part of their week with a trained GT teacher and other GT identified students. Students in 6^th through 12^th grade are served in two ways: through an elective course for GT identified students; and in Pre-Advanced Placement, Advanced Placement, and Enrichment courses.
• Bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL) teaches Spanish speaking students in both languages with the intent of transitioning them to full English instruction. The ESL program trains students in the acquisition of English regardless of their native language.
• Career and Technology Education programs enable students to gain entry-level employment in a high-skill, high-wage job and/or to continue their education in colleges and universities. LTISD designed its courses around six Institutes of Study:

• Veterinary and Agricultural Science Advanced Science and Medicine
• Business, Finance, and Marketing
• Technology and Communications
• Math, Engineering, and Architecture
• Fine Arts

All institutes have interchangeable courses, allow students to choose coherent sequences where they can explore ideas and opportunities in any institute and outside a specific sequence of study, and allow students to continue into the work force, on to higher education, or both.

• Special Education program is committed to providing full educational opportunities for students with disabilities and to serving students in a beneficial and integrated setting to the extent appropriate for each student.The goals of the Lake Travis ISD Special Education program are to ensure that all children have a free appropriate public education (FAPE) designed to meet their unique and individual needs and to prepare students for higher education, employment, and independent living
• Technology is responsible for providing leadership in the implementation of educational technologies that increase the effectiveness of student learning; instructional management; professional development; and administration. Technology, both software and hardware, is integrated into every classroom, campus, and department and is a major area of emphasis in the district.The technology applications curriculum has four strands: foundations, information acquisition, work in solving problems, and communication. In elementary school, teachers integrate technology into all areas of study. In middle school, students participate in technology applications classes. In high school, courses are available to satisfy graduation requirements and as electives.
• Counseling programs are vital to the success of all students. LTISD offers extensive counseling in the following areas:

• elementary/secondary students
• bilingual (Spanish) and ESL (any language)
• students needing special education
• college-bound students
• career-bound students

Each of these programs is intended to guide students into making quality decisions and developing productive, healthy relationships.