In order to comply with the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented, students are identified for participation in the AISD Gifted and Talented Program through the use of multiple criteria that are both:

• quantitative (ability assessments) and 

• qualitative (professional recommendations and classroom performance data)

The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students requires a minimum of three measures to determine whether a student needs gifted/talented services. In accordance with state guidelines and in striving to be an exemplary gifted program, Alvin ISD identifies students based on criterion and norm referenced testing, intellectual assessments, and teacher recommendations. 

Gifted and talented student referrals are accepted throughout the year from the following: teachers, administrators, parents, counselors, peers, the student or anyone familiar with the student’s behavior, performance, or products and who is aware of characteristics of the gifted and talented. 

• Community notices are placed on district & school websites regarding referrals.

• The Alvin ISD gifted program does not offer assessments for non-enrolled students. Students must be enrolled and in actual attendance prior to consideration for G/T assessment.

• Please click here for the referral and testing timeline.

• Please click here for the online referral form.

The campus G/T placement committee, made up of at least three of the following personnel, reviews student’s data to determine placement: Advanced Academics Specialist, administrator, counselor, and classroom teacher with 30 clock hours of G/T training.

All kindergarten students are screened during the fall semester and students who meet the screening criteria are tested during the months of January/February. G/T services will begin by March 1st of the school year.

Identified Gifted/Talented students from another district are considered for placement during the first six weeks of enrollment.

• Previous Gifted/Talented documentation should be provided by parents to the campus Advanced Academics Specialist.

• Further assessment may be needed.

• The campus selection committee for gifted/talented students reviews the assessment data and determines the best placement for the student.

• Parents are notified in writing of the campus G/T placement committee’s decision.

The Alvin ISD Advanced Academics department conducts summer screenings for private school and home school students for possible gifted/talented testing. Parents of newly enrolled private or home school students who do not go through the summer screening process, must indicate when enrolling their child that they would like to have their child screened for G/T. 

• Depending on the outcome of the screening, a student may meet criteria to participate in G/T testing. 

• If your child is newly enrolled in Alvin ISD as a previous private school or home school student and has never attended public school, the district will conduct a screening on your child. 

• In order to have your child screened, the student must be enrolled in an Alvin ISD school.

• All screenings and/or testing will occur within the first few weeks of school during the fall semester. After this time, any new student referrals will test during the next available testing cycle.

• Alvin ISD will conduct G/T summer screenings once for a child.

A parent or staff member may appeal an identification decision made by the campus placement committee for gifted/talented students. The appellant must submit an appeal letter to the campus Advanced Academics Specialist no later than 15 working days after the campus G/T selection committee has communicated the placement decision. A response will be made to the person making the appeal no later than 15 working days after receipt of the letter of appeal. 

Students unable to maintain satisfactory performance within the structure of the G/T program may be placed on furlough by the campus GT committee, which includes: Advanced Academics Specialist, classroom teacher, administrator, and counselor.

• If a student fails any grade level state-mandated test, he/she may be placed on furlough for one year until passing the next year’s grade level state-mandated test. If the student continues to fail any grade level state-mandated test, he/she may be considered for exit from the GT program. The campus G/T placement committee may consider extenuating circumstances.

• If a student fails a core class (English/Language Arts, Science, Math, and/or Social Studies) for a nine-week period, he/she may be furloughed from the G/T program.

• At the elementary level, if a student chooses not to participate in the levels of service offered to G/T students, he or she may be furloughed from the G/T program and will not attend G/T pullout classes.

• Students may be furloughed for a period of time deemed appropriate by the above committee, with student’s progress reassessed at the end of the furlough.

• At the end of the furlough period, the student will be re-evaluated by the campus G/T placement committee. A decision will be made for the student to continue in the G/T program or begin exit procedures.

A student may be exited from the G/T program when the furlough requirements have not been met. The campus G/T placement committee will evaluate and make the final recommendation for the student. In order to re-enter the program, the student must be referred, screened, and tested for re-entry into the G/T program. A parent/guardian may request in writing program exit at any time.