Notice-Green-GISD Board calls for Nov. Prop A election
GISD Board calls for Nov. Prop A election

If passed, Proposition A is projected to provide about $56 million in additional funds annually for teacher and staff salaries, student programs, specialized education services and safety and security. 

Acceleration provides opportunities for K-8 students to move up one grade level. Students must meet the qualifications and requirements and be enrolled in a Garland ISD school to advance.

After testing, results will be collected by our Research, Assessment and Accountability Department (RAAD). These results will be sent to the home campus principal and counselor who will then contact the student’s parent/guardian with the results.

Students may only be moved to another grade level before the fall semester begins. If your child is recommended for acceleration, it will be on a probationary basis. You will be contacted if the school or teacher feels it is in the best interest of the child to be placed back in the prior grade.

Kindergarten

A student who is 5 years of age on September 1 is eligible to apply for grade-level acceleration through kindergarten to enter 1st grade. The kindergarten acceleration program tests students wishing to skip kindergarten and be placed directly into first grade. We strongly encourage all students to participate in kindergarten due to social, developmental, emotional and academic benefits this grade level provides.

To determine whether testing and possible placement in first grade are the best options, parents, students and staff should consider: 

  • the academic rigor of first grade
  • the social and emotional impact on the student
  • the effects of skipping a grade level on the student’s overall educational experience 

After making these considerations and if a student meets the following qualifications, then a parent/guardian may request that his/her child test for placement in first grade. 

The Kindergarten Acceleration program test is based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Kindergarten students. The test is administered on the computer using the i-Ready Diagnostic assessment in both reading and mathematics.

2025-26 Application Deadlines and Testing Windows for Kindergarten Acceleration
Application deadlineTest datePlacement guidelines
May 1, 2025June 1-30Testing for acceleration to 1st grade in the 2025-26 school year

Qualifications for testing

  • The student must be 5 years of age on or before September 1
  • The student must be registered for Kindergarten for the school year in Garland ISD
  • Application for Kindergarten acceleration must be submitted prior to the deadline. The completed form can be emailed to cbe@garlandisd.net

Requirements to advance

  • The student must score at or above the target placement scale score on the End-of-Year (EOY) i-Ready Diagnostic in both reading and mathematics, as determined by Garland ISD in alignment with the TEKS.
  • The student must meet or exceed the Garland ISD Kindergarten Acceleration benchmark scores: Reading: Level K Late or above (scale score 424 or higher)
  • Math: Level K Late or above (scale score 412 or higher) 

If a child is recommended for acceleration, it will be on a probationary basis. Should the school or teacher feel it is in the best social, emotional, or academic interest of the child to be placed back in kindergarten, the parent will be contacted. 

Students may attempt to accelerate no more than two times for kindergarten.

Grades 1-8

Students in grades 1-8 who wish to advance one grade level with no prior instruction may take an exam for acceleration. The exams are designed to assess the student’s mastery of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for a grade level or course.

Our acceleration tests use state-approved criterion-referenced exams developed by either the University of Texas at Austin or Texas Tech University. Students may take a Credit by Exam for acceleration purposes during any of the four testing periods.

2024-25 Application Deadlines and Testing Windows
Testing windowApplication deadlineAdministration windowTesting location
July 1 - Sept. 30, 2024May 1TBDTBD
Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2024Oct. 1TBDTBD
Jan. 1 - March 31, 2025Jan. 1TBDTBD
April 1 - June 30, 2025April 1TBDTBD

Qualifications for testing

  • The application must be submitted prior to the deadline. The completed form can be emailed to cbe@garlandisd.net.
  • The student may only attempt to accelerate two times for the same grade/subject before they no longer can test. 
  • A student’s placement in a new grade level will only occur at the start of the school year, no matter what time the test was taken.

Requirements to advance

  • The student should score at or above the 80th percentile in both reading and math on the end of year NWEA/MAP test for the grade level they wish to skip.
  • The student must score at least 80% on each of the four content areas, criterion-referenced Credit by Exams (language arts, mathematics, science and social studies).*
  • Each student has two lifetime opportunities to accelerate per grade level.  There is no appeal process.
  • For students in grades 4-8, the student must have scored at the Master's level in the prior year’s STAAR testing scores.

Note: For grades 6-8, there are two tests per content. One for each semester of coursework.

Contact us

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