Testing Information

Students do not need to study or prepare for GT testing. The tests are designed to measure students’ current performance level and abilities in comparison to others of their same age and/or grade level. Abilities tests are supposed to test potential and be independent of direct teaching of content.

We are not releasing the names of the exact tests we will be administering. All of the tests we use are nationally recognized in the educational community and have strong statistical merit. The norm groups on which scores are based are appropriate for the demographics of our school district. As students cannot study to become gifted, parents do not need to know the names of the exact tests we are administering.

Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about the testing process. Students need to be reassured that their parents’ feelings for them will not change based on the results of the test. Students should expect the tests to have both very easy and very hard questions. And while it is important that students put forth a good effort on the tests, students should not worry and be upset about the experience.

Students Enrolled in FBISD

1. Referrals
   • Referral Forms are available in the school's counseling office and online. These are to be filled out by parents or secondary students who wish to refer themselves and submitted to the campus counselor by the September 25, 2009 deadline.
   • Teachers and other school staff may refer students using the Teacher Referral form. If a teacher refers a student, parents will be sent a Permission to Test form to complete. Parents must sign the consent form to allow the school to test the student.
2. Assessment / Testing
   • Students test during school hours.
   • Referred students will be administered a series of tests which include a nonverbal mental abilities test, quantitative, and verbal abilities tests.
   • The test window is October 12-23, 2009.
   • Teachers will complete a teacher inventory (School Rating Scale) for all students in their classrooms who are referred for GT testing.
3. Identification
   • Students’ test scores, teacher inventory scores, and parent referral form scores will be plotted on the Gifted and Talented Identification Profile.
   • The Campus Selection Committee, consisting of a campus counselor and/or administrator and three teachers, convenes to make identification decisions based on district criteria. All members of the Campus Selection Committee have been trained in gifted education and specifically in identifying students’ needs for the special education services provided by the FBISD GT Program.
   • Decisions regarding students’ needs for GT services are made by subject area.
   • There should be a preponderance of scores in the gifted range relating to a subject area for a student to be identified as needing GT services in that subject area.
4. Notification
   • Parents are notified in writing of the Campus Selection Committee's decision in February.
   • Parents are advised of their right to appeal at the campus level within ten (10) school days of the date of the Campus Selection Committee’s decision letter.
   • Parents may not appeal until after they receive official notification of the Campus Selection Committee’s decision in February.
5. Appeals
   • Parents must appeal in writing to the campus principal within ten (10) school days as indicated on the notification letter.
   • After the appeal meeting, the Campus Selection Committee will respond with their decision in writing to the person making the appeal within ten school days of the meeting.
   • Should a person want to appeal the placement decision of the Campus Selection Committee, and he/she has followed the campus appeal procedures, a letter of appeal should be submitted to the Coordinator of Gifted and Talented who will forward the letter to the Central Appeals Committee. It is imperative that a person wishing to appeal at the central level adheres to the deadlines for scheduling central appeals.

Other Students - Spring Testing

This testing is for students who were not enrolled in FBISD schools when Enrolled Student testing took place. This includes students who attend private/home schools. FBISD students who were referred for testing during the regular Enrolled Student Testing but were unable to test will be allowed to participate in spring testing. Students who were enrolled in FBISD who could have been referred for testing during the regular Enrolled Student testing are NOT eligible to test in the spring.

1. Registration
   • GT Testing registration packets be available from the GT Office, FBISD Administration Building, 16431 Lexington Blvd. on January 5, 2010.
   • Registration packets with completed teacher inventories and parent referral forms must be turned in during the registration time period. Deadline February 1, 2010.
2. Assessment/Testing
   • Tests administered on two Saturdays – February 27 and March 6, 2010. Parents select ONE of the two test dates. The same tests are administered both dates.
   • See Important Dates for this year’s testing dates.
3. Identification
   • Students’ test scores, teacher inventory scores, and parent referral form scores will be plotted on the Gifted and Talented Identification Profile.
   • The Selection Committee, consisting of a campus counselor and/or administrator and teachers, convenes to make identification decisions based on district criteria. All members of the Selection Committee have been trained in gifted education and specifically in identifying students’ needs for the special education services provided by the FBISD GT Program.
   • Decisions regarding students’ needs for GT services are made by subject area.
   • There should be a preponderance of scores in the gifted range relating to a subject area for a student to be identified as needing GT services in that subject area.
4. Notification
   • Parents are notified in writing of the Selection Committee's decision in March.
   • Parents are advised of their right to appeal at the campus level within ten (10) school days of the date of the Selection Committee’s decision letter.
   • Parents may not appeal until after they receive official notification of the Selection Committee’s decision in March.
5. Appeals
   • Parents must appeal in writing within ten (10) school days as indicated on the notification letter.
   • After the appeal meeting, the Selection Committee will respond with their decision in writing to the person making the appeal within ten school days of the meeting.