Identification Process 

• All students may be referred for testing and consideration in the Gifted and Talented Program by teachers, counselors, parents, or other interested people (s).

• All WISD students in kindergarten and grade two are automatically considered for Gifted and Talented services. A referral is not required; however, parent input is requested. 

• The referral includes 10 survey questions about the student. 

• Written parental consent will be obtained before any special testing or individual assessment is conducted as a part of the screening and identification process.

• All student information collected during the screening and identification process will be an educational record, subject to the protections set out in policies.

• The referral period for the 2023-2024 school year begins on March 20, 2023, and ends on April 7, 2023. 

• A parent awareness session will be held on March 8, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the PLC Room at the Education Support Center. This optional session will provide an overview of the assessment procedures and services. 

• GT Parent Survey for Kindergarten Students (English) (Open December 5-16, 2022) 

• Spanish:  Encuesta para padres de GT para estudiantes de Kinder (abierta del 5 al 16 de diciembre de 2022) 

• GT Parent Survey for Second Grade Students (English) (Open February 6-17, 2023)

• Spanish: Encuesta para padres de GT para estudiantes de segundo grado (abierta del 6 al 17 de febrero de 2023)

• GT Parent & Teacher Referral/Survey for First Grade and Grades 3-12 (English) (Open March 20- April 7, 2023) Spanish: Remisión/encuesta de padres de GT para estudiantes de primer grado y grados 3-12 (abierto del 20 de marzo al 7 deabril de 2023)

Kindergarten and Second Grade Screening

• All kindergarten and second-grade students are given a verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning test. 

• All kindergarten and second-grade students are given an academic achievement test. 

• A performance task will be given to all students.

• Teachers and parents will complete a survey on all students.

• Second-grade students previously identified as GT will not participate in the screening. 

Grades 1, 3-12 screening 

• All referred students will have the opportunity to participate in the screening process.

Selection Committee

• A selection committee will evaluate each referred student according to the established criteria and will identify those students for whom placement in the gifted and talented program is the most appropriate educational setting. 

• The committee will be composed of at least three professional educators who have received training in the nature and needs of gifted students.

Assessment Schedule

• GT Window #1: Only open to WISD students new to the state or new to public school. Related assessments are administered during the fall semester, and results are communicated by the end of October. If qualified, services begin immediately.
• GT Window #2: All kindergarten students in WISD are evaluated for gifted and talented services. Related assessments are administered in the late fall and early spring semester, and results are communicated by the end of February. If qualified, services begin by March 1. 
• GT Window #3: All second-grade students in WISD not currently served in the GT program are evaluated for gifted and talented services. Related assessments are administered during the spring semester, and results are communicated by the end of April. If qualified, services begin the following school year.
• GT Window #4: Only open to WISD students in grade 1 and grades 3-12 not currently served in the GT program. To be eligible for window #4, students cannot participate in windows #1, #2 or #3 during the same school year. Related assessments will be administered in the late spring semester, and results are communicated by the end of May. If qualified, services begin the following school year.

 Notification 

• The District will provide written notification to parents of students who qualify for services through the District's gifted and talented program. 

• Participation in any program or services provided for gifted students is voluntary, and the District will obtain written permission from the parents before placing a student in a gifted and talented program.

• Families and staff will be informed of student placement and given opportunities to schedule conferences to discuss assessment data.