Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for the Advanced Academics Fine Arts Academy FAQ? Click here.
1. My child will be entering kindergarten next school year. Can I have them evaluated for GT services before starting school?
A: Unfortunately, we are unable to evaluate students for GT services who are not currently enrolled in Forney ISD. However, we will do Academy (either Dual Language or Fine Arts) qualification testing in the late spring/early summer for future kindergarten students. Information about these programs and how to sign-up for testing will be shared at Kindergarten Round-up in March. Please note, academy qualification testing will not qualify a student for GT services.
2. We are moving to Forney and my child qualified for gifted services in their previous district. Will they also qualify for services in Forney?
A: That depends. TEA empowers each local education agency to design their gifted services in a way that best suits their unique student population. What this means is that occasionally a student who qualified in another district may not qualify here due to differences in accepted testing measures. When your child is accepted to Forney ISD, their testing data will be sent to the GT director and reviewed against our requirements. If the data received aligns to our identification measures, your child will begin receiving service immediately. If not, they will receive the education most appropriate to their needs. To read more about our transfer process, click here.
3. What is the difference between advanced academics and GT?
A. Students who qualify for advanced academics show a need for academic enrichment within the general education classroom (K-4th grade) or within an advanced section of a core class (5th grade and up). A GT student has shown this same academic need, but also displays a need for additional services in the form of social-emotional development &/or opportunities to show mastery using more creative and non-traditional assessments. The GT designation will transfer to other school districts if you leave Forney ISD, but the advanced academics label may not.
4a. My child's native language is not English. Will they be able to complete the GT assessments?
4b. My child has dyslexia. Will they be able to complete the GT assessments?
A. Yes! All of our GT tests are non-verbal, meaning they don't contain words in any language. Even the directions are given as a short cartoon demonstrating what students are supposed to do.
5. My child qualified for GT services. Do they need to be re-evaluated each year to continue receiving services?
A. No. Once a student is identified and placed in the Forney GT Program, it is not necessary for the student to be re-identified each year in order to continue receiving services. Instead, the student will be evaluated throughout the year to determine if program placement offers the best instructional setting for the student. Measures such as classroom performance on assessments and successful participation in GT activities will be used to evaluate the appropriateness of a student’s placement in the program. If at any time GT services are deemed not appropriate for the student, then the procedures for furlough or exit will be followed. To learn more about the exit process, check out the GT Services Handbook.
6. How can I best prepare my child to be evaluated for GT services?
A. Our GT assessments do not have an associated test prep process. However, you can help your child experience the thought processes by playing problem-solving games like Clue & Q-bitz, logic games like Battleship & Mastermind, and creative games like Apples to Apples & Minecraft. Additionally, playing the game where you guess what the cloud shape looks like is a great way to exercise creative ability.
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