Referral and Identification Process
Harlandale ISD accepts referrals for identification for gifted services throughout the school year. Referrals are open to all students K-12 from each campus within our district.
Please be advised, that although referrals are opened year-round, a student referred for G/T testing will only be tested for gifted and talented services during specific testing windows outlined below.
Understanding the Gifted and Talented Identification Process
Harlandale Independent School District has board-approved procedures and processes for the identification of students requiring Gifted and Talented Services K-12. These procedures meet state requirements (§29.121 & TAC 89.1) and have been designed to ensure the identification of any student who demonstrates an educational need for services under the established guidelines.
Harlandale ISD defines gifted and talented as any child or youth in grades K-12 who performs at, or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who:
Exhibits high-performance capability in general intellectual ability; or
Excels in one or more specific academic fields: math, science, language arts, and/or social studies
The identification process is planned and conducted by a group of professional educators within the Gifted and Talented Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The intent of the identification process is to determine if data reflects that G/T services will be the most effective way to meet the needs of the referred students.
Identifying students for the G/T services is accomplished through a comprehensive identification process consisting of three steps.
Referrals of students for G/T are ongoing throughout the school year and are based on teacher, parent, community member, peer, and self-recommendation or by any person familiar with the student’s abilities, potential, performance, and/or past record.
Assessments are used to identify those students that indicate an educational NEED for specialized gifted services. The designated G/T Proctor and G/T department staff will collect all screening data which is compiled and organized into the student profile document.
Each individual student’s data is reviewed during a meeting by a committee of at least three local educators who have received the required training per 19 TAC §89.1(4)). Documentation regarding the committee’s decision will be sent to the parents and communicated to the student’s campus.
Upon request, parents can inquire about the collected data to better understand the committee's decision.
For specific questions or more information please contact the HISD Gifted and Talented Department.
Transfer Students
When a student identified as Gifted/Talented by a previous school district transfers to Harlandale, the parent/guardian should notify the campus and/or our department. Our department will reach out to the previous school/district to acquire the student's previous testing data and identification documents. The records will be reviewed by our G/T Selection Committee to determine if services are required and appropriate. If the committee does not recommend services with the data provided, the student may be referred to undergo Harlandale's identification process.