• Traits of Giftedness

    Gifted individuals are unique, each displays different traits and behaviors of giftedness.  Below are some common traits that gifted individuals exhibit.  No gifted learner exhibits all of these traits to the same degree.

    • Ability to comprehend material several grade levels above their age peers 
    • Surprising emotional depth and sensitivity at a young age 
    • Strong sense of curiosity 
    • Enthusiastic about unique interests and topics  
    • Quirky or mature sense of humor 
    • Creative problem solving and imaginative expression 
    • Absorbs information quickly with few repetitions needed 
    • Self-aware, socially aware, and aware of global issues 

        

    Screening Process for Secondary Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Services

    Birdville ISD follows the Texas State Plan for Gifted Education and uses multiple measures when screening students for GATE services.  The same types of data are initially collected on each referred student, including current scores from a standardized aptitude test and input on gifted traits/behaviors observed in the home and school environment.  The collected data for each referred student is taken to a GATE Placement committee for review.  GATE Placement Committees are formed of a minimum of three district personnel who have completed required GT training.  During the meeting, a member of the GATE Placement Committee may request additional data before making a service recommendation.  Students whose data reflects that gifted/talented (GATE) services will be the most effective way to meet their identified educational needs may be recommended for GATE Services.  

    Access Secondary GATE Referral Letter 23-24 ENGLISH

    Access Secondary GATE Referral Letter 23-24 SPANISH

    Students can be screened for GATE services once per school year following the timeline below.  

     

    IF YOUR CHILD IS ALREADY IDENTIFIED FOR GT SERVICES IN ÒÀÒÀÉçÇø, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT A NEW REFERRAL!  SECONDARY STUDENTS RETAIN THEIR GT INDICATOR AS LONG AS THEY ARE ENROLLED IN AT LEAST ONE ADVANCED (HONORS/AP) COURSE!

    2024-2025 Screening Timeline 

    October 15, 2024- Referral period opens for students in grades 6-12  (this is the only referral period for grades 6-12 for the 2024-2025 school year).

    November 1, 2024- Referral period closes at 4 pm.

    November 6-December 13, 2024- Testing window for students in grades 6 - 12. The GT Department will coordinate with campus instructional facilitators and academic deans to schedule testing times for students at each campus. 

    December 2024 - GATE placement committees will meet to review data on referred students and make service recommendations.  Parents will be notified by Focus of GATE service recommendations.

    Special Screening Situations

    Transfer students:   If a student transfers to Birdville ISD that was identified for gifted and talented services in a previous district, that student will be screened for GATE services after verification of the GT identification from the previous district.  Data from the previous district that is less than two years old may be considered by the GATE Placement Committee.  If data is more than two years old, new data will be collected to determine if gifted services are appropriate.  If your child is a transfer student, please contact Stacye Onstott, Coordinator of Gifted Services.  Email Stacye Onstott. Be certain to include:  child's name, child's current grade level, child's previous campus and district, and child's current home campus in Birdville ISD.  If a student was identified for GATE services at one Birdville campus and transfers to another Birdville campus, that student will continue to receive GATE services.

    Special Education students:  Data used to determine special education services for students can be used to help determine GATE placement as long as it is less than two years old.  

    Outside Test Scores:  GATE Placement Committees will consider test scores from assessments given outside the district as long as the testing occurred in a public or private educational setting.  GATE Placement Committees do not accept test scores from private assessments.

     

    GATE Placement Committee Decision Appeal Process (FNG LOCAL)

    If a student is not recommended for GATE services by the GATE Placement Committee, a parent, student, or Birdville ISD personnel, may request a formal reconsideration of the decision if one of the following three criteria are met:

    • The home language of the student is not English, and there is evidence that this has impacted the results of the screening process.
    • The student has a disability as identified through an Admission, Review, Dismissal (ARD) or 504 committee that may have an impact on the screening process.
    • There is documented evidence that the student was experiencing emotional stress during the screening process due to a life change (ie divorce, death of a close family member, etc...)

    Level I Appeal Process

    • Parent, student, or Birdville ISD personnel must file a formal appeal  to the Coordinator of Gifted Services within 15 district business days of the receipt of the GATE Placement Committee’s decision, or if received during the summer, within the first 15 days of the school year.  Within 15 days of the receipt of the written Level I appeal, the original GATE Placement Committee members will reconvene to review student data collected during the screening process and consider additional information provided by the Level I appeal.  Based on a review of the data provided from the Level I Appeal, the original GATE Placement Committee members may uphold their original recommendation, make a new service recommendation, or request additional data be collected.  The original GATE Placement Committee will notify the person who filed the appeal in writing of the decision made.  **If the GATE Placement Committee decides to collect additional data for a student, that data may be collected at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

    Level II Appeal Process

    • If the parent, student, or Birdville ISD personnel did not receive the relief requested at the Level I Appeal Process, he or she may file a Level II Appeal.  After receiving notice of the appeal, the Level I administrator shall prepare and forward a record of the Level I Appeal, including all documentation submitted by the student or parent, as well as other documents relied upon by the Level I administrator in reaching the Level I decision, to the appropriate Level II administrator.  
    • The Level II administrator shall schedule a conference within ten days after the Level II appeal is received.  The conference shall be limited to the issues and documents presented by the student or parent at Level I.  No new documentation may be presented at Level II that was not made available at Level I.
    • The Level II administrator shall provide the student or parent a written response within ten days following the conference.
    • Level II appeal forms will be made available electronically if requested.