Can I enroll my child into QUEST?
No, QUEST is not a club or activity that you can enroll in or sign up for. It is an academic intervention and/or educational service that a student must qualify for.
Does a child have to have high MAP and ISIP scores to qualify for QUEST?
Yes and no. During the screening process some of the evidence we look at is MAP and ISIP overall scores that are in the 90%ile and higher range. Those scores help support students move on to testing, but it is not all that we look at. We look at about 8 pieces of information including both quantitative and qualitative data to determine if GT testing is needed.
How often do you screen and test students for GT/QUEST?
We screen and test Kindergarten students in January-February. We screen and test students in 1st-5th grades in March-May. Students who qualify for services will begin in September of each school year and do not start services in the middle of the year unless they are a GT transfer student or in Kinder. Kinder students begin services by March 1st.
Do you automatically screen and test new to district students?
No. All students must be referred for GT screening. The only exception is Kinder where we automatically screen them. All districts must universally screen one grade level and Leander universally screens in Kindergarten.
Can my child be removed from GT/QUEST?
Yes, students can be exited from GT/QUEST services if there is no longer an academic or social emotional need for the service. The student is first furloughed for the school year and then a decision is made to either continue GT services or exit them entirely. These decisions are made with the student, parent, and QUEST teacher through a formal meeting.
Does my child need to be reevaluated for GT/QUEST each year?
No, once your child qualifies for GT/QUEST they are coded in PEIMS and are identified as GT and receive GT/QUEST services until they exit Leander ISD. A child may be reevaluated if they exit the program and seek reentry OR if they move outside of Leander ISD. Most districts re-screen and/or retest students who move in from other districts. Some districts take previous district's scores, but it depends on each district's GT policy.
Is there GT/QUEST in secondary?
Yes, GT/QUEST is carried on through middle school and high school, but will look different than the elementary program. Think of elementary QUEST as talent development through creative authentic learning experiences that help nurture their gifts, talents, and interests. In elementary QUEST, we expose them to a variety of disciplines so by the time they reach middle and high school they start to develop learning and interest based pathways. Middle school and high school provide a variety of electives and accelerated academic options that support their interest and learning pathways. For more detailed information please contact the middle school counselor(s) for your child's school. For more about this see this link.
Why does the GT/QUEST screening and testing process take so long?
It takes a long time to assess students for GT services because we are trying to determine if a student is in need of an academic and social emotional service. Being gifted is a loaded label with a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings. We look at the whole child and pull a variety of quantitative and qualitative measures when screening any student who has been referred. It takes time for parents and teachers to complete in depth surveys about traits and characteristics and time for the GT specialists to score each survey. Once the evidence is gathered and enough evidence supports the need to test, each student is individually assessed using intellectual tests that are nationally normed. While those results are instant, we have scheduled meetings with a cohort of other district GT specialists to analyze results and determine if GT services are needed for each student tested. For more information on this process, please refer to the identification page.
If my child does not move past screening, when can I refer them again?
You can refer them again at anytime. Remember, they will only be screened and tested during the spring.
If my child passes screening but does not qualify on the gifted assessments, can I refer them again?
Yes, you can refer your child again for screening. If they move to testing, they can be retested, but only a year after they were last tested.
Can I prepare my child for the gifted intellectual tests?
Not really. The best advice we can give to prepare your child for the assessments is to get a good breakfast and sleep prior to testing. There are online resources that familiarize you with the testing format. We recommend encouraging your students to do their best on istation and MAP assessments because that is part of the data that we look at during the screening process.