Gifted & Talented

Wylie ISD Gifted & Talented Assessment Calendar

Kindergarten GT Screening

• September to November: Kindergartners will be screened for GT consideration.
• November to December: Kindergartners that meet the initial criteria with MAP scores and teacher observations will be screened.
• Late February: Results are issued to campuses.
• March: GT services begin for newly identified kindergarten students.

Spring Screening

• Open to all students in 1st, 3rd through 11th grades.
• April 1-April 12: Spring screening referrals accepted.
• Students will be screened mid-April through the end of May.
• Last week of May: Results are issued to campuses and parents.
• Services begin at the start of the following school year.

2nd Grade GT Screening

• Students will be screened mid-April through the end of May.
• Last week of May: Results are issued to campuses and parents.
• Services begin at the start of the following school year.

In an effort to greater serve students with advanced learning needs, Wylie ISD has open nominations for gifted and talented identification for students in 1^st and 3^rd through 11th grade each spring. If you are interested in having your child screened for Wylie ISD’s Gifted and Talented Program, there are a number of important things to remember:

• Late March: Parent Information Meeting through zoom. Link will be sent out in March. Parent Information Presentation

  Parents who want their child screened for GT should attend this meeting to learn more about the screening process and characteristics of the gifted child. (Kindergarten and 2nd grade parents do not need to attend this meeting as all kindergarten and 2nd grade students are automatically screened).

• April 1-12: Window for referrals

  Parents of students in 1st, 3rd, or 4th grade should complete the Elementary GT Spring Referral if they wish for their child to be screened for Wylie ISD’s Gifted and Talented Program.

  Parents of students in 5th-11th grade should complete the Secondary GT Spring Referral if they wish for their child to be screened for Wylie ISD’s Gifted and Talented Program.  Please note, the referral links will not be available until April 1.

• Students will be screened mid-April through the end of May.

  GT screening and assessment will be administered to all second-grade students and any 1st and 3rd-11th grade student whose parent completes the referral.

• Last week of May: Parents are notified if their child qualifies or does not qualify.
• GT services begin for newly identified students at the beginning of the next school year.

Below is a list of characteristics to consider when nominating a child for GT screening:

Kindergarten Screening

• Quantitative Data:
  • Cognitive Abilities Assessment
  • Achievement Assessments
• Qualitative Data for students with quantitative data that indicates a possible need for gifted services:
  • Teacher Rating Inventory
  • Creativity/Problem Solving Portfolio

Second Grade Screening

• Quantitative Data:
  • Cognitive Abilities Assessment
  • Achievement Assessments
• Qualitative Data for students with quantitative data that indicates a possible need for gifted services:
  • Teacher Rating Inventory
  • Creativity/Problem Solving Portfolio

Spring Screening Referrals

Students in 1st or 3rd through 11th grades may be referred by teachers or parents (or self in grades 7-12) to determine eligibility for Gifted and Talented services.

• Quantitative data such as cognitive abilities and achievement assessments.
• Teachers complete a Teacher Rating Inventory on nominees.
• The Creativity/Problem Solving Portfolio is an optional assessment as needed.

District Selection Committee

• The District has a standing committee, which is responsible for student selection for placement in the Wylie ISD Gifted and Talented Program.
• The committee is comprised of the Wylie ISD District GT staff and GT campus coordinators and/or GT classroom teachers.

Schedule for Assessments

• All kindergarten students are screened in the first semester and, if qualified, will begin services on or before March 1.
• All second grade students are screened in the second semester and, if qualified, will begin services the following school year.
• Assessment for nominated students will be conducted in the spring.
• At Parent request within 30 days of enrollment, students new to the district will be assessed within the semester they enroll.

Duties of Selection Committee

• Select students eligible for Gifted & Talented services using data provided through the assessment process
• Make committee consensus decisions
• Grant furloughs and approve exits from Gifted and Talented Program

A student may exit and re-enter the Gifted and Talented program only through the methods described in the following sections:

Transfers

Identified Gifted and Talented Students:

• Transfer students who participated in a gifted and talented program in their previous accredited public school district will be reviewed, assessed and appropriately placed based on their documentation by Special Services or the Advanced Academics Specialist.

New Enrollee (not identified by previous school):

• Transfer students who were not served in a gifted program in their previous school may request screening upon enrollment (within 30 days) in WISD. Screening will be provided to determine the best placement for the student.

Furloughs

Students will be granted a leave of absence (furlough), as requested, from the Gifted and Talented Program services for specified reasons. The specified reasons may include:

1. Student scheduling concerns based on school offerings
2. Family/personal reasons

• Furlough may be requested by parent, student, teacher, or counselor.
• Furlough will be reviewed by District Selection Committee and recommendations made.
• State policy prohibits furloughs for longer than one consecutive year.

Exit Procedures 

The following occurrences can move a student into step 1 of the exit procedure:

1. Failure to submit at least 90% of all assigned work in the Gifted and Talented Program.
2. Failure to comply in the Gifted and Talented Program with behavioral expectations listed in The Student Code of Conduct.
3. Request by parent to exit student from the Gifted and Talented Program.

A student in the Gifted and Talented Program may be exited due to his/her nonperformance in the program itself. The exit procedure is a three step process as outlined below:

• Step 1: Student/Parent is notified (Documentation is required.).
• Step 2: Conference is held with parent and student (Documentation is required.).
• Step 3: Dismissal will be requested by G/T district committee with parent and student notification (Documentation is required.).

Re-entry Process

• If a student has been exited by the school through the exit procedure as outlined above, he/she may re-enter through the nomination process and requalify, no earlier than the beginning of the next school year and only after he/she has been out of the program for at least one complete semester. In some cases, this will mean that a student will reenter the program at the beginning of the second semester of the following year.
• If a student decides to exit himself/herself from the Gifted and Talented Program, he may reenter the program through nomination, no earlier than the beginning of the next school year by requalifying in the Identification Process.
• If a student has a schedule conflict that forces a choice to be made between the Gifted and Talented Program and another subject, the student will be placed on furlough and may continue in the Gifted and Talented Program as soon as his/her schedule will allow.

Information on how to appeal a non-placement decision is detailed in the sections below.

Level 1

• A parent or guardian may appeal the placement decision of their student within 10 business days of placement notification by completing the appropriate form below. This form will be sent to the Elementary campus GT teacher or the Secondary GT Learning Specialist.
  • Elementary Appeal Level 1 Form
  • Secondary (5th – 11th) Appeal Level 1 Form

Level 2

• If the parent or guardian wishes to appeal the decision of the Level 1 GT committee, the parent or guardian will complete the information on the level 2 appeal form to appeal to the District GT Appeals Committee. Parents must be able to provide substantial evidence that creates a compelling argument for the student’s need for gifted and talented services. The committee cannot consider testing done by private practitioners in the appeal. The Level 2 appeal must be received by the campus GT teacher within 10 business days of the date of parent contact listed above.
• After the Level 2 appeal is received, it will first be determined if the Level 1 appeal was completed according to guidelines. If the Level 1 appeal was completed according to guidelines, the district level committee will move forward with reviewing the testing information for the Level 2 appeal. If the Level 1 appeal was not completed according to guidelines, the notice will be sent back to the parent to complete Level 1 prior to filing a Level 2 appeal.
• The Level 2 appeal committee will consist of an executive curriculum director and two qualified GT teachers not involved in the Level 1 committee. The parents will be offered a conference in which the parents will provide evidence of the student’s abilities as they relate to gifted and talented services. No decision will be made during the conference. The District GT Appeals Committee will then review GT assessments as well as the information provided by the parents. A written response that provides the Level 2 committee's decision will be mailed to the home address of the student within 30 days of the appeal conference.

Texas Gifted Education Family Network

The Gifted Education Family Network offers connection opportunities for both individual parents and for the leaders of parent groups across Texas!

Parent Support Group:  Are you an individual parent looking to connect with other parents of gifted children in Texas?  The GFEF warmly invites you to join their Parent Support Group on Facebook!  To learn more, visit the Member Support Group Interest form.. 

GEFN Parent Resource Group:  The GEFN Parent Resource Group helps parent support groups from around the state to grow their membership, to advocate for their students, and to support their families. They have observed that the #1 factor in elevating GT services in a district is GT parent advocacy.  They are available to help support parent groups with connections and resources to make that advocacy possible, and will work with groups at any stage of their journey (even if they have yet to be created).

The Resource Group meets monthly, and recent discussions have included goal setting for the new school year and current legislation affecting each district. To find out more about GEFN and our Parent Resource Group, please visit the GEFN website or email them at giftededucationfamilynetwork@gmail.com.

Students who participate in services designed for gifted students will demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communication as evidenced by the development of innovative products and performances that reflect individuality and creativity and are advanced in relation to students of similar age, experience, or environment. High school graduates who have participated in services for gifted students will have produced products and performances of professional quality as part of their program services.