In July 2019, a revised Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students (State Plan) was approved. With the newly approved State Plan, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) issued a clarification statement in October 2019 regarding Accountability Standard 2.15, which states “Assessment opportunities for gifted/talented identification are made available to students at least once per school year.”

In response to this statement of clarification communicated by TEA, each Allen ISD student will have the opportunity to test for potential gifted identification once per academic school year. Per guidelines in the State Plan, Allen ISD’s gifted/talented identification and assessment procedure and qualification criteria consist of at least three quantitative and qualitative measures, including aptitude and achievement testing, creative and critical thinking tasks, and an opportunity for parent and teacher input. Allen ISD’s qualification criteria have not changed. Students already identified as gifted/talented by Allen ISD will remain so.

En julio del 2019, se aprobó la revisión del Plan Estatal de Texas para la Educación de Estudiantes Dotados y Talentosos (plan estatal). Con el recién aprobado Plan Estatal, la Agencia de Educación de Texas (TEA, en inglés), en octubre del 2019 emitió una declaración aclaratoria en relación al estándar de toma de responsabilidad 2.15, el cual declara que “Por lo menos una vez por año escolar, se ponen a disposición de los estudiantes oportunidades de evaluación para la identificación de estudiantes dotados y talentosos.”

En respuesta a dicha declaración aclaratoria comunicada por la Agencia TEA, todo alumno del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Allen, tendrá la oportunidad de tomar la prueba para la identificación potencial de estudiantes dotados y talentosos una vez por año escolar. De acuerdo a los lineamientos del Plan Estatal, el procedimiento y criterio de aceptación, identificación y evaluación de estudiantes dotados y talentosos del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Allen, consiste de al menos tres medidas cuantitativas y cualitativas, incluyendo prueba de aptitud y logro, tareas de pensamiento creativo y crítico y la oportunidad de que padres de familia y maestros den su opinión. El criterio de aceptación del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Allen no ha cambiado; los alumnos ya identificados como estudiantes dotados y talentosos por el Distrito Escolar Independiente de Allen se mantendrán de esa forma.

Referral

Each Allen ISD student may be referred for and have the opportunity to test for potential gifted identification once per academic school year. Districtwide testing for kindergarten students is administered in December/January. All kindergarten students participate in phase I testing. Districtwide aptitude screening is offered in February/March for students in Grades 1-11. Students in Grades 1-11 must be registered to participate in testing. Parental consent is obtained before any special testing or individual assessment is conducted as part of the identification process.

Assessment

Students may participate in testing for potential gifted identification once per school year. Per guideline set in the State Plan, Allen ISD's gifted/talented identification and assessment procedure and qualification criteria consist of at least three quantitative and qualitative measures, including aptitude and achievement testing, creative and critical thinking tasks, and an opportunity for parent and teacher input.

New Students

Families of students new to Allen ISD who were identified as gifted in their previous school/district should email scores and/or documents used to determine gifted identification to gifted@allenisd.org. Once these documents are received, they will be assessed and the next steps will be determined and communicated to the family.

Selection and Placement

The District Selection Committee makes the final decision on student identification and qualification for gifted services.

District Selection Committee

Responsibilities of the District Selection Committee may include:

1. Including classroom teachers, gifted specialist teachers, campus administrators, and district coordinators.
2. Assisting with policy and procedure updates.
3. Assisting with identification and qualification of students for gifted services.

Selection Criteria

Students must meet the minimum criteria set by the District Selection Committee in order to be selected for participation in AISD gifted and talented services. Referred students are selected based on both quantitative and qualitative measures.

AISD District Criteria:

Aptitude -97 Age NPR or above
Achievement – 97 PR or above
Critical/Creative Thinking Portfolio - 4
Parent/Teacher Inventory - 4

Phase I Testing:

Students who register for phase I testing take the online CogAT on their home campus during the school day. Students who meet district criteria are referred for phase II testing.

Phase Two Testing:

Students who meet district criteria on phase I testing are eligible to participate in phase II testing, which includes an achievement test and a creative/critical thinking exercise. Phase II also requires observation inventories to be completed by teachers and parents. These inventories rate students on observed traits and characteristics that may be common of gifted/talented students. In grades 3-11, students respond to writing prompts and are scored holistically for purpose, organization, elaboration, depth, and complexity.

Alternative Review offers a second opportunity to students who scored extremely close on phase I but did not meet district criteria for further screening. Students who score at 94, 95, or 96 age percentile in any one area of phase I testing are eligible for alternative review. Requests for alternative review must be received within ten days of receiving your student's phase I testing results. Directions to apply for alternative review are included in your student's phase I testing results, which are mailed to the address on file with the district. Students who participate in the alternative review process are not eligible to file an appeal.

A furlough may be granted at the request of a teacher and/or campus committee, student (K-12) and/or parent. Per the State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, a student may be furloughed for a period of time deemed appropriate by the selection committee, but a furlough will last no longer than the current school year. At the end of the current school year, the student’s progress will be reviewed.  At that time, the student will be re-entered to gifted courses/services for the following year, unless they choose to permanently exit. Any student who exits gifted/talented courses/services must test in order to re-qualify as gifted/talented.

• Elementary: A student may furlough once K-6.
• Middle School: A student may furlough once 7-8.
• High school: Identified student may choose the gifted course or other option and will maintain gifted status through graduation.
  

All Kindergarten students will participate in phase I (aptitude) testing on December 6-13, 2021. Notification of results will go home via Skyward messenger on Jan. 20, 2022.

Kindergarten students who meet Phase I criteria are eligible for phase II testing. Phase II testing will take place on campuses during the school day from Jan. 24, 2021, to Feb. 18, 2022.

Please complete both the registration form and parent inventory below to register your eligible kindergarten student for phase II or alternative review (AR) testing. Please use Google Chrome if possible. Internet Explorer is not compatible.

Kindergarten phase II & AR registration (Kindergarten phase II registration is currently closed.)
Parent inventory

Notification of final results via Skyward messenger: Feb. 24, 2022

Each year, Allen ISD hosts an informational meeting for parents providing information on the district’s Gifted and Talented services.  The 2021-2022 meeting will take place via Zoom on January 27, 2022.

The 2020-2021 informational meeting was held on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, via Zoom webinar.  If you were not able to attend the meeting, or if you'd like to review the presentation materials, please visit the links below:

• recording of 2021 parent information meeting
• 2021 parent information meeting slides
• 2021 parent information meeting FAQs

Allen ISD administers the computerized version of the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) for all students in grades 1-11 who test for potential gifted identification.  All students interested in participating in phase I of testing for potential gifted identification will take this administration of the CogAT on their home campus during the school day.  Registration for phase I testing for students currently in grades 1-11 will be open from January 27, 2022, through February 7, 2022.  Please use Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari, if possible.  Internet Explorer is not compatible. If your child is registered to test, you will soon receive more information about the specific date and time of their testing session.

In order to register for testing, students must:

• be enrolled in and attending an Allen ISD school at the time of registration and testing
• currently in grades 1-11
• not already be identified gifted/talented in Allen ISD
• not have participated in phase I testing during the 2021-2022 academic year

Results Notification via Skyward messenger: April 8, 2022  

Registration for phase II testing will open for qualified students on April 8, 2022, and will close at midnight on April 14, 2022.  To qualify for phase II testing, students must score a 97 Age Percentile Rank (APR) or higher in one or more assessed areas of the CogAT in the current school year (unless otherwise notified via a district selection committee decision on a previously filed appeal). Students who qualify for phase II testing through the spring 2022 CogAT will be notified via Skyward messenger on or about April 8, 2022.

For a qualified child to participate in phase II testing, their parent or guardian must complete both the phase II registration form and parent inventory linked below. Both forms are due by midnight on April 14, 2022.

• Phase II registration form (currently closed)
• Parent inventory form (currently closed)

If your child did not meet the district minimum standard of 97 APR but scored a 94-96 APR in any of the tested areas, they are eligible to complete an alternative review (AR). If your child qualified for AR and you would like them to complete the process, you must email gifted@allenisd.org no later than midnight on Thursday, April 14, 2022.

Phase II testing & AR for qualified, registered students will take place on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Test day details will be emailed to families of registered students the week of April 18, 2022.

Notification of final testing results will be communicated via Skyward messenger on or about May 18, 2022. Students who are ultimately identified as gifted will begin receiving gifted services during the 2022-2023 school year. Secondary students (grades 7-12) who have already made course selections will have an opportunity to change their schedules to accommodate gifted coursework.