QUEST in a Nutshell
QUEST is an acronym for Quality Utilization and Enrichment of Student Talents. The LISD Gifted and Talented program is known as QUEST.
QUEST provides gifted services designed to meet the needs of students who excel or show potential to excel in high general intellectual ability, which is one of the areas of giftedness as defined by the state of Texas.
Our Leander QUEST program is holistically based. LISD offers advanced academics in the regular studies program, while the QUEST program uses Project Based Learning to teach students how to use the tools of critical and creative thinking to deepen their ability to solve problems creatively. The students do an annual Independent Study on a topic of their choice then showcase their learning in a creative way.
Students receive about 2 hours a week of Gifted services. Services may be Pull-Out into the QUEST classroom, a combination of Push-in/Pull-Out or Flexible Grouping in a QUEST/GT Cluster. See Leander ISD Elementary Gifted and Talented Service Design, 2025-26 for more information.
The program is designed to meet the expectations outlined in the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, 2019
LISD Advance Academics
Leander ISD Elementary Gifted and Talented Service Design, 2025-26
Public QUEST Curriculum and Instruction (page down for links to each grade's year at a glance)
• Spiraling Continuum: The skills taught in QUEST are structured in a spiraling curriculum, from Kindergarten through Grade Twelve
Creative Thinking: What are the tools and processes? How to use Creative Thinking tools to solve problems more creatively.
Critical Thinking: What are the tools and processes? How to use Critical Thinking tools to solve problems more effectively.
Research Skills: What are the tools and processes? How to synthesize Critical and Creative thinking to research, solve problems and present research.
Affective Skills: What are my own skills, gifts and talents? How can I use those to create a career that makes me happy? (Texas state law requires Parent permission for this unit)
• Elementary QUEST: students participate weekly in various interdisciplinary, project-based units of study under the direction and facilitation of the campus QUEST specialists. They also have access to support from the QUEST-G/T teachers through QUEST Lab, as well.
• Middle School QUEST: a daily interdisciplinary gifted curriculum plus access to support from the QUEST-G/T teachers through QUEST Lab.
• High School QUEST: Gifted and Talented students are encouraged to participate in Advanced Courses such as Pre-AP English QUEST. All students are encouraged to explore their personal passions using the many Pre-AP, AP and specialized courses in Career, Tech, Business and Fine Arts. QUEST Independent Study Mentorship is available upon request.
QUEST teachers present campus awareness sessions about Leander's special services for Gifted and Talented students.
The QUEST curriculum is published online. See blue links near the top of this page.
The QUEST teacher is available by appointment to give a more in-depth explanation to teachers, parents, students, or community members.
QUEST students remain in QUEST services and are automatically placed in the next year's program unless they request a furlough or exit.
Student's may request a furlough of up to 1 year or exit the program. A meeting with the QUEST teacher is required for both furloughs and exits.
The QUEST teacher can recommend a furlough meeting for academic or behavioral reasons.
QUEST teachers: receive 30 hours of training in gifted education prior to being assigned as QUEST-G/T teachers. QUESTG/T teachers receive on-going training locally and through state conferences and other seminars dealing with best practices and current research for educating the talented and gifted (at least six hours annual update in training each year). They then share that learning with their colleagues.
Teachers of high school Pre-AP/AP/IB courses: receive 30 hours of training in gifted education. This includes twelve hours of nature, needs and identification/assessment of the gifted. The remaining eighteen hours of training are in the teachers’ content areas and other areas of gifted education. They also receive an annual six-hour update in gifted education each year.
Teachers of middle school Pre-AP language arts, PACE Math and Social Studies courses: receive training in the Nature and Needs of Gifted Students and Pre-AP/differentiation strategies. Teachers then continue to receive annual 6 hour training on Gifted Students until they have reached 30 hours.
All elementary QUEST cluster classroom teachers: receive an initial six hours of training in the Nature and Needs of Gifted Students then continue to receive annual 6 hour training on Gifted Students until they have reached 30 hours.
Yes. Classroom teachers incorporate these skills into the regular curriculum in an age-appropriate manner. The difference is in when the skills are introduced and in the pacing and depth at which they are applied.
The QUEST teacher may assist classroom teachers in planning instruction, presenting demonstration lessons or workshop sessions, or working with groups on special projects or skills and other areas as determined by campus need.
Parent Resources (also see Enrichment tab/GT Organizations)
Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, 2019