Referral Process
Referrals for the Belton ISD Gifted & Talented Program may be made by parents or BISD staff. Students may be referred for screening each year during designated referral windows. Before requesting a referral, parents are encouraged to review their child's prior district testing data and reach out to their child's classroom teacher regarding academic strengths.
Belton ISD does not offer assessment services to the general public, only students enrolled and attending a Belton ISD campus.
The Belton ISD Gifted & Talented assessment process includes both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data includes parent and teacher surveys. Quantitative data includes both ability and achievement data. Students are assessed in languages they understand to the greatest extent possible, or through non-verbal assessments.
A committee of at least three personnel who have been trained in the nature and needs and identification of gifted students will determine placement services of each child. This committee could include the GT teacher, counselor, administrator, GT district coordinator or other trained district personnel.
2023-2024 Testing Window Timelines
August 21-October 6: Referral open for 1st-12th graders
October 9-November 17: Testing
November 27-December 15: Placement committee meetings and Kinder Checklists
January 8: Service begins grades 1-12
January 8 - January 31: Kindergarten testing
January 31-February 15: Kindergarten placement committee
By March 1: Service begins kindergarten
April 15-May 17: Teacher Referral open for 24-25 school year
Click here to refer your child: Parent Referral Form
Retesting
Students can be tested once a year. However, some of the assessment data collected is valid for up to 2 years and will be used for the next year's evaluation.
Furloughs and Exiting
Students may be furloughed for up to 1 year from the GT Program due to illness, parent request, or other issues that require an absence from the program.
GT students may be exited from the GT Program if it is no longer an appropriate academic placement. Students will have to retest if they want to enter the program again.
These are rare possibilities. The GT teacher, classroom teacher, parent, and an administrator will collaborate on what is best for the student. The GT Coordinator will be notified and appropriate documentation will be provided should one of these situations occur.