All students in the second grade are screened for the GATE program as part of the district's universal screening program unless parents do not give permission or opt out of testing.  The Naglieri non-Verbal Ability (NNAT3) assessment is administered for all students at the end of the school year.

Students who demonstrate exceptional performance may be nominated for the GATE Referral Process by teachers, administrators, or parent/guardians.  Nomination may be based on standardized academic data or academic testing.

• Academic work (report card grades, SBAC)
• Intellectual capability is measured by NNAT3.
• Performing Arts students are selected by auditions.

The parent/guardian of students who are identified as gifted are sent a letter indicating the student's status and how the student is qualified.

Students will be placed with qualified teachers in a classroom setting where they will be challenged according to their ability.

Students enrolled in GATE for high achieving or high intellectual abilities will receive an invitation to participate in BUSD GATE Enrichment Program, which provides courses in art, language, science, writing, music, and computer courses after school.  Other school-level program options include before or after school GATE classes and possible field trips.

Each student in the GATE program can participate in the Enrichment Program. Classes are offered during the second and third trimesters. Students can attend a class at their school or join a class at another elementary school. Students may only take one class per session. Please note that district transportation is not available.

Registration will be done via a Google Form. Your child's teacher will provide you with the link. Please complete the form if you would like your child to participate in the GATE Enrichment After School program. Registrations will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

A confirmation email will be sent approximately two weeks before classes start. Please check your email, including the SPAM folder. You can also find a list of current GATE class enrollments at each school.
 

Each session is six weeks long. Classes are held on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is essential that your child be on time to class.

If students arrive late or do not attend class, priority will be given to students on the waiting list.

• Comic Book Creators: Superheroes

In this class, students will learn how to build characters, story, and will learn the step by step process of creating a comic book. After the session is over, the students get to keep their very own comic book.

• Creative Sculptures

Make figurines, mosaic, and multimedia sculptures while learning about famous sculptors like Jeffery Koons, Kenneth Price & Walter Furlan.

• Fine Art Academy

Learn the basic principles of art including line, shape, color, values, texture, and space with examples from famous artists like Hockney, Cezanne, and Monet. Your art dreams become real as you explore different styles while drawing, painting, and creating mixed-
media collages. Make the coolest art around... YOURS!

• Mini Medics

Mini Medics medical sciences is designed to introduce students to medi-cal and health care careers. Students learn human anatomy and the physiology of organ systems focusing on the gastrointestinal system. Experiments or workshops help students understand medicine as apply new concepts to exciting hands-on
activities!

• Celebrity Master Chef

New and different recipes are explored each week from appetizers to entrees, snacks, desserts and more! Featured Chefs: Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay and Giada
De Laurentis

If a class is canceled, you will receive a ParentSquare notification. We anticipate that all classes will take place. If a regular class is canceled, it will be rescheduled during a make-up week.
 

Teachers will take attendance and begin the class immediately. Students on the waiting list will be admitted if space becomes available.

The Naglieri Non-verbal Ability Test Version 3 (NNAT3) is a non-verbal assessment of general cognitive ability without reliance on language or motor skills.  It measures reasoning and problem solving progressive matrices with shapes and designs that are not unique to any cultural group.  The NNAT3 is an abilities test, not an achievement test, and is administered online.  Unlike achievement tests such as the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) test, the NNAT3 does not measure how much a student has learned.  Instead it focuses on a student's ability to display cognitive abilities that research has associated with academic success.  It is not necessary for students to prepare for the test.  There are no workbooks or study guides to prepare for the test. 

Students have 30 minutes to answer the 48 questions on the NNAT3.  The test is administered on Chromebooks for all students.

When enrolling your child in the appropriate school, please be sure to indicate your child's placement in GATE in your previous district.  If you have aptitude test scores, please provide this information to the school as well.  Your child will be admitted into the BUSD GATE program.

No, once a child is identified for GATE in BUSD, the designation remains through grade 12.

Placement of GATE identified students is recommended; however, students who do not participate for a period of time do not lose their identification status.