Tempe Elementary board approves $130 fee for gifted testing of non-district students

The Tempe Elementary School District Governing Board voted Aug. 6 to charge non-district families $130 per exam for gifted testing.

District staff explained the fee is intended to cover staffing and administration costs for tests given to students who do not live within district boundaries. Dr. Driscoll, speaking for district staff, said the amount reflects rates in surrounding districts and that “if one student came, we actually lose money on that,” because staffing and proctoring comprise most of the cost. He added the district will continue free, blanket testing for Tempe students.

Board members asked procedural questions about when testing would be offered and whether families would need to come on weekends. Staff said testing would likely be held at the Gifted Academy, often on Saturdays, with multiple time windows and occasional summer sessions. The district said non-Tempe students who test with Tempe may still take their scores to other districts to seek placement there.

The board made the motion and approved the fee during the meeting; the motion passed by voice vote and no roll-call tally was listed in the public transcript.

Key details: the fee is $130 per exam; testing windows are expected to be under one hour per student, proctored on-site (likely at the Gifted Academy), and Tempe students will continue to receive free blanket testing provided by the district.

Next steps: Staff will implement the fee schedule and scheduling procedures; the district did not provide a date in the Aug. 6 meeting for the first non-district testing session.