Dripping Springs ISD is committed to ensuring the most appropriate educational setting for each student. Our Gifted and Talented (GT) Program is designed to meet the needs of students who exhibit significantly advanced intellectual ability. The program provides an appropriately differentiated curriculum presented in a way that offers greater depth, more complex content, and extensive enrichment activities designed to challenge Gifted and Talented-identified students.  

STUDENT ASSESSMENT

Dripping Springs ISD has established a thorough assessment process to identify students and ensure they are placed appropriately into the program.

Referral
Students must first be referred for Gifted and Talented consideration. This is an open system with recommendations accepted from principals, teachers, parents, guardians, students (both self and peer), psychologists, counselors, librarians, administrators, and community members.
Parents/Guardians must complete the referral form found at the bottom of this page for permission for assessment for the Gifted and Talented program.

Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment
All students referred for Gifted and Talented assessment will complete a testing process. Testing instruments are approved by the district, are aligned with best practices, and are appropriate to the student’s grade level. Parent and teacher evaluations may be included in the assessment process.

Parent/Teacher Evaluation
Parents and teachers rate the student on a variety of areas including vocabulary, expression, mastery levels, critical thinking, reasoning skills, reading level, observation skills, and problem-solving.

Assessment
The assessment results are evaluated by the Dripping Springs ISD Gifted and Talented Assessment Committee. The committee may consider additional evaluation criteria including student portfolios, anecdotal information, and other relevant data. The Gifted and Talented Assessment Committee makes the final determination as to whether or not the student is accepted in the Gifted and Talented program.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

A student new to the district identified as gifted by a previous school district will be assessed through the district gifted and talented transfer assessment procedures in order to qualify for the DSISD Gifted and Talented Program. 

Students transferring from one campus to another within DSISD will be appropriately placed in the DSISD Gifted and Talented Program at the accepting school with no interruption of services.

When a student withdraws from Dripping Springs ISD and enrolls in another district, DSISD will provide for the new district the student’s assessment data and a letter stating that the student participated in the DSISD Gifted and Talented Program.

DISTRICT ASSESSMENT WINDOWS

The Gifted and Talented assessment process for the new school year will begin after the first few weeks of school for all campuses.  

GIFTED & TALENTED REFERRAL REQUESTS

All referral requests should be submitted by completing the form below.  

Fall 2023 Gifted and Talented Referral Form (English/Spanish)

RESOURCES

Dripping Springs ISD Gifted & Talented Guidelines and Procedures

Gifted and Talented Furlough Form

CONTACTS

Elementary Gifted & Talented Specialists

DSE/WSE/RSE - Kari Potter, 512.858.3840, kari.potter@dsisdtx.us

RSE/SSE - Clancy Lisko, 512.465.6274, clancy.lisko@dsisdtx.us

CSE/DSE - Stephanie Leblanc, 737.260.8745, stephanie.leblanc@dsisdx.us

DSISD Gifted & Talented Coordinators

Dr. Alicia Maphies, 512.858.3014, alicia.maphies@dsisdtx.us

Kristen Ray, 512.858.3042, kristen.ray@dsisdtx.us