Information for Parents

Baylor TIP’s mission is to identify exceptional talent in STEM and the humanities and provide world-class learning opportunities commensurate with students’ exceptional potential. Baylor TIP focuses on both the identification of talent through our assessments and the opportunity to develop talents and interests through customized educational recommendations and out-of-school programs.

Qualifications Needed to Take the Baylor TIP Assessments

Students qualify to take our above-level assessments through any one of three avenues:

score in the top 25% on one or more subtest of a state or national standardized exam (local norms are recommended but not required),
be formally identified as gifted or talented by a district, or
be recommended by a teacher, administrator, and/or parent.

Identifying Student Talent

The first step of the talent search is to identify student talent. Baylor TIP offers two above-level assessments. Students who are qualified to take the assessments will select one of the following to complete:

IAR TIP Grades 7+ for Grades 7 and up, or
IAR TIP Grades 4-6 for Grades 4–6.

Registering for a Baylor TIP Assessment

Families can register their students individually at any time on our website without going through their school district. Students who are registered by their families take the assessment online at their own home.

Registration is currently open for 2023-2024 testing that begins in October. The testing window to be considered for our 7th-Grade Talent Search Recognition Ceremony is October 1–February 28 of each year. We do have a limited amount of financial aid available for families. Families wishing to apply for a need-based scholarship for testing should complete this application and return it to us at BaylorTIP@baylor.edu.

If your child attends a school that is participating in the Baylor TIP program, please contact the school or district directly for registration due dates and testing dates. School administrators are in charge of making these arrangements, and we are not part of that process. We work with schools and districts across the state of Texas and beyond, and decisions regarding registration and test dates are made at the local level. If your school or district does not participate in the Baylor TIP program at this time, or if you would prefer to have your child register individually and take the assessment at home, please feel free to register him or her at the link that is available above.

Next Steps

After testing, students will receive a detailed score report with their results, as well as educational recommendations. Once students are admitted to Baylor TIP, they are eligible to participate in our educational programs through Grade 12. To have a full perspective of students' strengths, we ask that students test once during Grades 4–6 and once again during Grades 7–8.

7th-Grade Talent Search

Seventh-grade students who score exceptionally well on the IAR will be invited to celebrate their achievement with us at a Baylor TIP Recognition Ceremony in the spring. In addition, they will have access to specialized summer programs we offer through our Baylor TIP Academy for students in grades 8-12. Students who wish to be considered for the awards ceremony in the spring must complete their testing by February 28, 2024.

Students Identified Through Duke TIP

Students who were previously identified through Duke TIP's 7th-grade Talent Search Program and eligible to take their courses will be automatically admitted to Baylor TIP. Just email verification of your student's status with Duke TIP to BaylorTIP@baylor.edu.

Information for Parent Groups

If you represent a parent group in your community and would like to formalize a partnership with Baylor TIP, we'd love to hear from you! Simply fill out this form to express your interest. We simply ask that you share our information and opportunities with your membership and positively promote our programs in your communities.

For several years, our Center for Gifted Education has collaborated with the Gifted Education Family Network of Texas to host a Parent Conference in the spring, and Baylor TIP is currently piloting a talent advising program with GC-SAGE. We'd love to explore opportunities to connect with even more of you! We are available to give a 30-minute virtual presentation about Baylor TIP to your parent group, and each of our parent group partners will be recognized on our website and will receive a Baylor TIP Parent Partner logo for their use.

Thank You! To Our Parent Group Partners

Classical Conversations, Waco, TX

GC-SAGE, Grapevine-Colleyville, TX

Gifted Education Family Network of Texas (if you are looking for a parent group to join, this group offers free memberships and serves families from all over the state)

Keller Community of Gifted Student Supporters (COGSS), Keller, TX

Pearland ISD GT Academy Booster Club, Pearland, TX

Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS) GT Parent Group, Spring Branch ISD, Houston, TX