Referral Deadline Approaching for Kindergarten
Gifted & Talented Screening

(October 1, 2008) – Parents of Katy ISD kindergarten students interested in referring their children for Challenge (Gifted & Talented) screening are encouraged to attend an awareness session starting at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9, at Morton Ranch Elementary.

The deadline for submission of the referral form (parent checklist) is October 17. The deadline will be enforced so that students can be tested on the testing days designated for this purpose. Screenings will take place between September 22 and October 17.

The State of Texas defines a gifted and talented student as a child or youth who performs or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment.

Parents of students who are referred and screened will receive placement notification during the last week of February 2009 and kindergarten service will begin March 2, 2009. The kindergarten program emphasizes general intellectual ability, and includes interdisciplinary units with strands from language arts, math, science and social studies. Students attend for 60 minutes each week in the Challenge classroom. Students identified in kindergarten move into the elementary pullout program in first grade. If you have questions, please contact the counselor at the home campus or the campus Challenge teacher.

Referral information is available on the Gifted and Talented page at: www.katyisd.org/curriculum/gt_advanced_academics.htm.