September Referral

2025-26 September Referral for 1, 3-12 Grades 

 

Who is eligible to be referred during the September Referral?

• Students who are newly enrolled and actively attending the district and did not participate in the New Student Referral.
• Continuing students who have not previously qualified for services and for whom at least one year has passed since the last testing session.
• Students identified as Highly Capable in other districts must submit a referral through the September Referral process.  Referral serves as the district's "transfer" process.

Sign up for the Issaquah School District's Bulletin to receive information on when the September Referral Window will open for the 2025-26 school year.  

 

What if I still have evidence to submit for the referral?

You may complete the application first, but applications and evidence are due/post-dated by 4:00 PM 9/15/25.

 

Who may refer students to the Highly Capable Program?

Family members, community members, and school staff may use this form to refer students to the Highly Capable Program.

 

Who is not eligible to be referred?

Referrals are not accepted for:

• Students tested for the ISD Highly Capable program in the past year.
• Students already identified for the Highly Capable Program and are being served.
• Students not actively enrolled in an ISD Boundary School or living outside the Boundaries. 
• Incoming Kindergarten and Second grade students are universally screened during the school year. 

 

What is the process and timeline?

• The district's Multidisciplinary Selection Committee screens all referred students.  
  • Screening decisions will be emailed to families.
  • Ensure your primary Family Access email address is current and check your spam folder.
• Testing Saturday 9/20 and Saturday 9/27 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at the ISD Administrative Building.
• Eligibility and placement decisions can be expected via email mid-December.
• Students will begin receiving services as soon as results are communicated to families and Permission to place forms have been submitted for eligible students.

 

Other Testing information:

• Eligibility is determined using the Cognitive Aptitude Test (CogAT), the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT), and i-Ready Math and Reading. The i-Ready is for elementary students, and the IOWA is for secondary students.
• The CogAT and TTCT are paper-and-pencil tests and must be mailed to the test vendor for scoring.
• i-Ready is administered by the classroom teacher during the school day.

 

Do I need to submit evidence?

Yes. The referring individual is responsible for submitting evidence showing that the referred student is potentially highly capable. All referrals will be screened. Some will be invited to test.

Examples of evidence that is accepted include, but are not limited to, any or all of the items listed below:

• Prior school-based or state testing.
• Standardized assessments.
• Report cards.
• Gifted/Highly Capable eligibility and placement letters from previous district.

Teacher recommendations and private testing done by psychologists and paid for by the family are not considered.  

 

How to submit evidence:

1. Mail to or drop off at:  

Highly Capable Program, Issaquah School District, 5150 220th Ave SE, Issaquah, WA, 98029

2. Scan and email to: highlycapable@issaquah.wednet.edu.

PDFs only.  Pictures are NOT accepted because they are often blurry and illegible.

 

NEED HELP? 

Contact our office if you need assistance with this process or a translator.  Call 425-837-7120.

 

DUE DATE:

• The online referral form will open on September 1, 2025.
• Online referral form and evidence are due by September 15 at 4:00 PM PST.  

 

QUESTIONS:

Please contact the Highly Capable Program Office:

• e-mail: highlycapable@issaquah.wednet.edu
• Call: 425-837-7120