Vidar ISD provided its annual gifted‑and‑talented (GT) update and board training at the July 28 special board meeting, reviewing identification procedures, service delivery and program evaluation.

The presenter explained state requirements for identifying and serving GT students, the district’s comprehensive program guide (board‑approved in June 2021) and an advisory committee that reviews policy and compliance. The district reported it identifies students using multiple measures — including CogAT and Iowa achievement tests, teacher surveys and parent scales — and that identification is performed by at least three trained educators via a blind review of data.

Staff said kindergarten screening is automatic and that the state funds up to 5% of students for GT services; Vidar reported 5.27% of students identified as GT. The presentation included demographic comparisons: district staff noted a somewhat higher share of male and white students in GT identification and highlighted that Hispanic students are identified at a lower rate than their district share (5.7% GT vs 10.8% district population), which staff said “is an area to be aware of.”

Program delivery details: GT students in K‑8 are served by GT‑trained teachers in core subjects; at the secondary level some students access honors, AP or dual‑credit courses, which staff noted do not substitute for specific GT services. Teachers who become GT trained must complete 30 hours of training and receive a six‑hour annual update; administrators obtain six hours of training and board members must be trained once on GT procedures.

Staff also described annual parent outreach, stakeholder surveys and the district’s evaluation process, in which a planning committee reviews the handbook and checks compliance with state requirements. The presentation was informational and intended as training for trustees, especially new members.

What happens next: The GT advisory and evaluation committees will continue annual reviews and staff will follow up on outreach and identification equity concerns noted in the presentation.