An Update for Parents: Gifted & Talented (GT) Education in GCISD

8/18/2025 8:45 am

We know summer is a time for family, and it's easy to disconnect from school-year conversations. If you're just catching up, a few things happened since May, especially regarding the GT community and how our district budgets for its programs. To help you get up to speed, we've put together some answers to the most common questions we're hearing from parents.

For reference, Check these previous posts

 

SAGE Advocates for All Students

SAGE’s advocacy for our GT learners is centered on the belief that all students deserve an education that meets their unique learning needs. Providing GT identified students with services is part of the State Plan required by the State of Texas.  We support the district's goal of ensuring every student achieves a year's worth of academic growth, no matter their starting point.

This means that just as GT learners need educators who understand their learning styles and are equipped to provide the right fit, students who require intervention deserve to have professionals with the right skills and understanding of their needs. This focus on differentiation—ensuring that learning is tailored to each student's level—and the need to maintain quality educators is a principle we believe should apply to every learner in GCISD.

Q: Why were GT programs in GCISD affected by a reduction in Title I funding?

A: This is a complex issue, but the key reason is that GCISD is no longer eligible for certain federal Title I, Part A grant funds. This is due to a change in the percentage of economically disadvantaged students, which fell below a certain threshold. The percentage shift was primarily caused by the enrollment of a large number of out-of-district transfer students at iUniversity Prep (the district's virtual school), the majority of whom are not economically disadvantaged. While GT programs are not funded by Title I, the reduction in these funds has led the district to make staffing adjustments at Title I campuses, including changes to the roles of GT specialists. 

Q: Is the ASPIRE Academy program a financial drain on GCISD?

A: This is a common question, and we're happy to share that the answer is no. According to data shared by Board Trustee Dalia Begin, ASPIRE is actually a revenue-positive program. This means it brings more money into the district than it costs to run.

  • How much money comes in? GCISD receives about $7,300 per ASPIRE student, thanks to various state funding sources.
  • How much does it cost? The cost for instructional salaries is about $2,300 per ASPIRE student.

What's the bottom line? This leaves around $5,000 per ASPIRE student to help pay for district-wide services like transportation, facilities, and technology. It’s a win-win: our kids get a great program, and the whole district benefits financially.

Trustee Dalia Begin Explains ASPIRE funding on her public Facebook Page

How to Get Involved and Ensure Your Voice is Heard

Q: How can we make sure our voices are included in these important conversations?

A: We believe the best outcomes come from a strong partnership between parents, district leaders, and the community. The district has shown a willingness to listen, and we must continue to expect our voices to be heard. We encourage all parents to get involved and share their perspectives.

 

Watch for emails from the District that invite you to join any of these GCISD district-level committees at https://www.gcisd.net/page/committees.

Look for Campus excellence committee to join

 

Campus Excellence Committees (CECs) are established at each school. Their purpose is to advise the principal in the development of the campus improvement plan and make decisions on campus-specific matters like budget, curriculum, and staffing patterns.  Here are some of the campuses we are aware host specific CEC meetings. If you're involved in one of these or another campus, please update SAGE at info@gc-sage.org.

Q: What about the recent changes to GT staff? What's going on there?

A: We've heard your questions about the GT Specialist roles and have been in direct communication with the district. The district has provided us with official responses to a letter we sent on behalf of the GT community. This is an ongoing discussion, and we will continue to share information as we receive it. The key is to keep the conversation going and make sure parents' questions are heard.

Q: What are the next steps for SAGE and our community?

A: As a parent-led group, we are committed to being a reliable resource for you. Our next steps are to continue advocating for programs that meet every student's needs, including those who need intervention and those who need advanced learning opportunities. We encourage you to reach out to us for ideas on how to get involved, whether on your campus or with our larger organization.

SAGE President speaks at June Board Meeting