Sachse-area families in Garland ISD have until Nov. 15 to apply for the district's Talented Program, which tests students in grades 1 through 7 for advanced visual arts and music placement.

Unlike the district's academic Gifted and Talented track, where Garland ISD automatically screens students beginning in kindergarten, the arts and music Talented Program requires parents to submit an application. Students who don't apply won't be tested.

The district posted the announcement Thursday, Oct. 1 on news pages for several Sachse campuses, including BG Hudson Middle School, Robert B. Sewell Elementary and John W. Armstrong Elementary.

Garland ISD identifies talented students in two tracks: music and visual arts. The music assessment for grades 1 through 4 includes two performances, vocal or instrumental, plus an in-person evaluation at a central location. Grades 5 through 7 also perform two pieces, vocal or instrumental, and complete an on-site assessment at a central location. The visual arts track requires a portfolio submission and a separate in-person assessment.

The Gifted and Talented department, led by administrator Dr. Cheryl Beard, and the Fine Arts department, directed by Joseph Figarelli, jointly run the assessments. After a family submits an application, the district contacts them individually with details on the testing process.

The district has not publicly posted when assessments will take place after the Nov. 15 deadline or when families will learn results.

Five Garland ISD campuses sit in Sachse: BG Hudson Middle School, Robert B. Sewell Elementary, John W. Armstrong Elementary, Giddens-Steadham Elementary and Sachse High School.

More information is on the district's Gifted and Talented Education page. The G/T department can be reached at 972-487-3193 or [email protected]. The Fine Arts department is available at 972-487-4467 or [email protected].