Gifted/Talented Screening Timeline
Referral Window Due Oct. 16
2nd Grade Testing Sept. 24 - Oct. 7
Parent Observation Form Due Nov. 13
Kinder-1 & 3-5 Testing Nov. 9-13
Parent Notification Letter Dec. 18
New students' GT Services begin Jan. 5
Gifted and Talented Referrals
Referrals for GT testing must be submitted by October 17. If you know a student you’d like to recommend for testing, please use this GT referral form.
View Referral Flyers Here:
Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Flyer
Gifted and Talented (GT) Services
Austin ISD provides Gifted and Talented identification and services across all campuses. Campus GT Advocates support teachers, students, and families with dedicated resources and information.
Parents, caregivers, teachers, and community members may refer any student for GT identification. In addition, all second-grade students participate in the Universal Nonverbal Screener each fall as part of the GT identification process.
Elementary GT Services
Elementary GT services are provided within the general education classroom using a cluster grouping model led by GT-trained teachers. Parents will receive a GT Student Services Summary each semester.
Acceleration
For information on content-area or whole-grade acceleration (grade skipping), please visit the district Advanced Academics webpage.
Enrichment & Extracurricular Opportunities
GT students have opportunities to extend their learning, explore their interests, and engage in experiences that provide depth and complexity.
Opportunities may include enrichment activities, clubs, competitions, contests, mentorships, internships, and other activities beyond the traditional school day.
Gifted/Talented Screening Timeline - 2026-27 School Year
- August 18 - October 16: GT Referral Window Referral Forms
- September 22 - October 7: Nonverbal Universal Screener (2nd Grade Students Only)
- September 23 at Noon or 6 p.m.: Virtual GT Services Family Information Session Meeting Session
- October 26-November 20: Testing of referred students and continuing 2nd graders
- December 2-16: Campus GT Committee reviews assessments and observations to identify students
- December 18: Parent Notification of Eligibility
- January 2027: Newly Identified Students Begin Services
For more information on GT Services and the identification process, please visit the district website Gifted & Talented section.
Contact Information
If you have any additional questions, you may contact the GT Advocate,
Sunny Steir (Librarian) at alison.steir@austinisd.org.
Search for you campus in Campus GT Contacts
Family Resources in the Austin ISD Portal
Gifted and Talented Family Connection in the Austin ISD Portal
This is a site that families can access through the Austin ISD Portal (login required). It houses an ever-expanding library of family support materials and resources for GT students in grades K-12.
Visit the Austin ISD Portal and search for the “Gifted & Talented Family Connection.”