Liberty Hill ISD expands GT services, reports identification rate near regional norms

Liberty Hill ISD presented an update Oct. 24 on its gifted and talented services, training and identification process, reporting steady program expansion and new monitoring steps for the 2024–25 school year.

Miss Klein, who oversees elementary education and GT services, told trustees the district increased GT identification from 4.8% five years ago to 10.1% last year — roughly in line with regional figures — and highlighted summer and virtual training that reached hundreds of teachers. "We have quite a few highlights to share with you," Klein said as she summarized summer GT credit hours, online training and the district’s new middle‑school standalone GT class that grew from 254 to 333 students.

The district described a two‑step screening process intended to be more efficient and equitable, including nonverbal components to better identify English learners. Klein said testing protocols include accommodations and one‑on‑one verbal assessment where appropriate to avoid missing twice‑exceptional students.

Board members asked about universal screening in kindergarten and third grade; staff said third grade uses a universal screener with parental permission while kindergarten identification remains referral‑based with classroom 'push‑in' GT instruction. Trustees also discussed goals and the absence of a fixed target for middle school GT headcount; district staff said identification targets are defined by performance thresholds (top ~4% on assessments) rather than raw enrollment targets.

Staff proposed implementing progress reports for GT goals, beginning in first grade, and providing additional mentor support for new GT teachers. The board did not vote on policy changes at tonight’s update but was encouraged to complete linked board training on the state plan.

The district will supply additional screening and growth details as part of ongoing program accountability.