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Deer Park ISD board unanimously approves 2026'27 highly capable plan, proposes universal KOGAT screening for 2nd and 5th graders
Summary
The board unanimously approved the district's 2026'27 Highly Capable plan, which relies on categorical funding, proposes KOGAT cognitive screening for second- and fifth-graders, expands teacher professional development, and funds parent workshops.
The Deer Park ISD board voted unanimously on May 5 to approve the district's 2026'27 Highly Capable plan after a presentation by district staff explaining program changes, screening recommendations and uses of categorical funding.
Kristen Jansen presented the plan and told directors the district is committed to serving highly capable students "within the regular classroom within the regular school day" and that the program operates on categorical funding that cannot be carried over from year to year. To ensure equitable identification, the plan recommends adding the KOGAT cognitive assessment to the district's battery and screening all second- and fifth-graders so students who may not perform on traditional achievement tests can be identified for services.
"With that full battery, the SBA, the I-Ready, the KOGAT, we feel much better about that," Jansen said, describing the KOGAT as a measure of cognitive ability and spatial reasoning that helps find students who might otherwise be overlooked by traditional tests.
Jansen also described professional-development investments for staff, a district handbook and updated web resources for families, and a parent workshop series that district staff said received positive feedback. The plan funds math and science coaching stipends, competition fees, travel and related expenses for student teams, and alignment work to ensure identification and services are consistently applied.
Board members moved and approved the plan without recorded opposition. The meeting record shows members later advanced several related policy items to second reading and agreed to return with clarified language on public-information designates and facility-insurance waivers.
Next steps: The plan will be implemented in the coming school year; staff noted the district will refine parent-facing materials and finalize KOGAT administration logistics before fall screening.
