Who and which grades
Published coverageK-12
Austin Independent School District parent navigator Official local sources · reviewed 2026-09-08
Gifted/Talented and Talent Explore,
made navigable.
Austin ISD accepts K-12 Gifted/Talented referrals from August 18 through October 16, 2026 and identifies students by subject area using observations, ability testing and sometimes work samples.
Independent from Austin Independent School District. Official district instructions always control.
What the official record confirms
Know the program.
Know the route.
Applicable school year: 2026-27. Bloomfield separates official requirements from our preparation guidance.
How students are considered
Published processStudents may be identified in G/T STEM, G/T Humanities, Talent Explore STEM or Talent Explore Humanities. The campus G/T Advocate coordinates screening. Qualitative evidence includes a parent or caregiver observation form and teacher observation forms, and the advocate may request a work sample; quantitative evidence includes an ability test.
What service can look like
Published modelAll campuses provide G/T identification and services. Elementary students learn with a G/T Foundations-trained teacher in a cluster group and receive a grade-level G/T Learning Plan plus a service summary each semester. Secondary options include Advanced and AP courses, campus magnet or IB programs, dual credit, advanced CTE, G/T Learning Plans and Texas Performance Standards Projects, subject to each program's prerequisites.
Your starting checklist
Turn the published process into clear next steps.
Confirm current instructions with the district before submitting. Bloomfield does not predict placement or reproduce protected assessments.
01Submit the online referral between August 18 and October 16, 2026 and save the confirmation.
02Choose the relevant evidence area—STEM, Humanities, or both—and ask whether the campus is considering G/T, Talent Explore, or both designations.
03Use the parent observation form to document specific examples of reasoning, originality, learning speed, depth, problem solving and sustained interests.
04Ask the campus G/T Advocate whether a work sample is helpful and what kinds of authentic school or home work are accepted.
05Request the ability-test date, teacher-observation timeline, committee date and written-decision date because the public page does not publish a single districtwide result date.
06After a decision, ask for the identified subject area, supporting evidence, G/T Learning Plan and the exact campus service pathway; magnet and IB admission remain separate.
Primary sources
Read the published language yourself.
01Gifted and Talented Referral and Screening Process ↗02Gifted and Talented Services ↗03Advanced Academics ↗
Last reviewed 2026-09-08. Program rules can change; verify the current school year with Austin Independent School District before acting.