With permission of the parent, an assessment process begins, which includes collecting data from teachers, parents, ability testing, a student interview, and samples of student work. This information is used to develop a profile of the student being considered.

Following assessment, eligibility is determined through a review of all collected data by the schools GATE Identification Committee. Parents are notified of the decision, and, in the case of ineligibility, of their right to and the process for appealing the decision. In the case of ineligibility, the student will be monitored for approximately one year by the classroom teacher and the GATE Resource Specialist for additional data, after which time, the school's GATE Identification Committee will consider any new data supporting eligibility.