Identification & Assessment

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    Texas State Plan Requirements

    A gifted/talented student is a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who: 

    • exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area;
    • possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or
    • excels in a specific academic field. (Texas Education Code §29.121)

    What is Equity in Gifted/Talented (GT)?

    According to the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, equity in G/T education exists when "the population of the total district is reflected in the population of the gifted/talented services program or has been for two (2) of the past three (3) years" (State Plan, 1.6E). http://www.gtequity.org/index.php

  • What can my Keller ISD student be assessed for?

    Students are assessed in educational needs for Advanced Academic/GT Services at the campus level. Quantitative and qualitative measures are used to determine eligibility. Measures may include, but are not limited to, the following when applicable:

    • Kingore Observation Inventory (KOI)
    • Parent Inventory
    • Teacher Inventory
    • Student Portfolio
    • Student Interview
    • Cognitive/Academic Aptitude
    • Academic Achievement & Assessment Data
    • Grade Reports/Classroom Performance

    Gifted and Talented Services are determined by a campus Admission, Review, and Exit (A.R.E) Committee comprised of at least three local district or campus educators who have received training in the nature and needs of gifted students and who have met and reviewed the individual student data.

    Students may be identified for services as follows:

    Grades K

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – GIA (General Intellectual Ability)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – All (Grade Acceleration) 

    Grades 1-4

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – GIA (General Intellectual Ability)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services - SPARK (Subject Advanced Academic)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – Math (Subject Acceleration)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – Science (Subject Acceleration)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – English/Language Arts (Subject Acceleration)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – Social Studies (Subject Acceleration)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – All (Grade Acceleration)

    Grades 5-8

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – GIA (General Intellectual Ability)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – Math (Subject Acceleration)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – Science (Subject Acceleration)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – English/Language Arts (Subject Acceleration)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – Social Studies (Subject Acceleration)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – All (Grade Acceleration) 

    • Accelerated and/or Advanced Courses

    • High School Courses

    Grades 9-12

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – GIA (General Intellectual Ability)

    • Identification for Gifted & Talented Services – Course Acceleration through Credit-by-Exams

    • Accelerated Courses

    • Honors Courses

    • Dual Credit courses

    • On-Ramps courses

    • Advanced CTE courses

    • Advanced Placement Courses

     

    Gifted and Talented Transfer Students
    At the time of enrollment, a student identified as gifted by a previous school district should present appropriate GT documentation and score information from the previous program to the campus registrar and GT Specialist.  Once previous documentation is received and parent permission has been obtained, the transfer process will begin. If the scores used in the previous identification are over 2 years of age, the committee may request updated testing. The A.R.E. Committee will determine if the student's data shows an educational need for Keller's GT district services based on the transferred records, observation reports of district teachers, and student and parent information. The A.R.E. Committee can also request additional testing and data if needed.

    Previous identification for Gifted and Talented Services does not guarantee identification for services in Keller ISD.

    Assessment Windows
    Students can be referred for services at any time during the school year. New to Keller ISD students referred by September 1st will be processed for assessment before the Thanksgiving Break.  Referrals submitted by December 1st will be processed for assessment at the beginning of the Spring semester. Students referred for services after December 1st will be assessed during the spring semester if the specialist has time in their schedule after the January testing window. Fall and Spring semester testing will vary between campuses outside of the January testing window, to meet the needs of our transfer and new students. However, the deadlines still apply. 

     

    Gifted & Talented Services Referral  

    Keller ISD students in grades K-12 can be referred to the Campus GT Specialist or Campus GT Liaison anytime during the school year. A teacher, administrator, parent, student, or community member may refer a student for Gifted and Talented Services.

    Community Members and Students who would like to refer a student for GT services need to contact the student's campus GT Specialist or Liaison.

    Parents can begin the referral process for GT services by accessing the following link: https://common.kellerisd.net/advanced-academics

    Parent GT Referral/ Permission paper forms can also be completed and returned to the campus GT Specialist/ Liasion. Click on the form you need below.

    English/ Spanish/ Vietnamese

    Notification of Identification for G/T Services

    Parents and students are notified of identification and service decisions in writing. Participation in GT services is voluntary. The written permission of the parent is required for a student to be assessed and receive GT services. If the A.R.E. Committee determines that the student does not demonstrate a need for Gifted and Talented services, the student may re-assess the following school year. Parents/Guardians have 10 days from notification to appeal the committee decision.