What is HATS?
HATS stands for High Achieving Talented Students and is a three-dimensional program sponsored by Stetson University (home of the Hatters). Working in collaboration with the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development at the University of Iowa, Stetson is proud to provide outstanding educational opportunities for high achieving Florida students. These opportunities include 1) extracurricular programs (HATS Summer Program, "Hatterdays" Program), 2) above-level testing through the Belin Blank Center's academic talent search (BESTS), and 3) Stetson scholarships.

Who is eligible?
Each year Florida students are invited to participate in HATS. These are students in grades 4-9 who participate in gifted programs or have scored at or above the 95th percentile on any subject area on the FCAT, ITBS, CTBS or other standardized test. Also invited are 4th-9th students who are members of the Belin-Blank Exceptional Student Talent Search (BESTS). Once a student has qualified he or she does not have to re-qualify but is eligible to continue participating in HATS. Stetson works with various school districts to identify eligible students. If you believe you or someone you know is eligible to participate but has not been notified by Stetson or the Belin-Blank Center, please contact us. We encourage all eligible students, including home schooled students and students attending private schools, to participate in HATS.

Do I have to take the BESTS test to participate in HATS or Hatterdays?
No, you may choose to participate in any aspect of any of our programs. However, we do encourage participating in BESTS because of the benefits it provides.

Exactly what is BESTS?
BESTS is the Belin-Blank Exceptional Student Talent Search. Only students who have scored at or above the 95th percentile in a standardized test are invited to apply. Participants register to take an above-level test, which is a more accurate and efficient way to determine content level mastery than simply using a grade-level assessment (e.g., FCAT).

What are the benefits of participating in BESTS?
The primary benefit receiving a detailed score report that provides insight regarding skills your child has mastered at various grade levels. Many parents use this information to work with schools to determine subject area placement and/or curricular modifications. Additionally, Stetson University awards a $4,000 scholarship ($1,000 annually for 4 years) to every BESTS participant that enrolls and is accepted to Stetson. Finally, all top scorers receive a full scholarship to their choice of a HATS Summer Program.

Do I have to be a member of BESTS or HATS to apply for the Mark Twain Young Authors Workshop?
No. Any student in grades 5-8 may apply as long as a teacher provides a letter of recommendation.

What is BESTS?
The Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa conducts an academic talent search each year using an above-level assessment for eligible students in grades 4-9. An academic talent search identifies high achieving students (those who have scored at or above the 95th percentile on a standardized test) and provides an above-level assessment to better determine students' specific academic strengths. Above-level testing is an educational procedure in which a test developed for older students is administered to younger students. Students in grades 4-6 are invited to take the 8th grade level EXPLORE Assessment, and students in grades 7-9 are invited to take the 12th grade level ACT or SAT. 
Students register by December 19th to take the test the following January or February for EXPLORE.  The testing dates are January 24 and February 21.  Testing dates for the SAT are January 24 and March 14 and for the ACT testing dates are February 7, April 14 and June 13. 

What are the benefits of above-level testing?
Compared to grade-level tests, which tell us what students already know, above-level testing tells us not only what students know beyond their grade level, but what students are ready to learn.  This is critical information for classroom teachers and parents.  Curriculum should be presented to match the readiness level of each student.  With high achieving students, it is often difficult to assess their level of readiness.  Above-level testing can provide valuable insight in this regard. Also, students benefit from the test-taking experience in confidence building. Achieving success on an above-level test makes regular tests less intimidating. And, last but not least, these students are eligible for increased scholarship opportunities.
 
How do I submit my scores?
You only need to enter the Math and Reading scores from the FCAT NRT.  For those registering for the first time a hard copy of your child's test scores should be mailed to:  Belin-Blank Center, The University of Iowa  600 Blank Honors Center  Iowa City, IA  52242-0454   All registrations are handled online. Please visit the website at www.stetson.edu/hats and follow the link to the BEST testing. The deadline to register is December 19th.  You can choose your testing dates and locations from the pull down menu on the registration form on the website. If you are having trouble registering, please e-mail us at hats@stetson.edu
 
What are the costs?
The EXPLORE for grades 4-6 is $58.00, the cost of the ACT for grades 7-9 is $63.00 and for the SAT for grades 7-9 is $78.00.  You pay by credit card when you register on line.  For those students on free/reduced lunch the cost for each test is $28.00.  You must submit a copy of your free/reduced lunch form.
 
What should I expect on the day of the test?
The test will be held on Saturday morning and your admission ticket will have the exact information on when and where to report.  However, you can expect to arrive around 8:00 in the morning to check in.  The testing usually ends around noon.  You will want to bring a sweater or jacket in case it is chilly in the testing center and of course you will want to bring plenty of sharpened #2 pencils with good erasers.  Calculators are allowed for the math portion of the test.  The registration materials that come with your admission ticket will guide you on the permitted models for each test.  You may also want to pack a healthy snack and bottled water.
 
What is the availability of BESTS in Florida?
Currently there are 12 school districts participating with Stetson University in the Belin-Blank Exceptional Student Talent Search (BESTS). They are: Brevard, Flagler, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, and Volusia Counties.  However, there are testing centers throughout the state of Florida and any student meeting the eligibility requirements may register. 

If you have additional questions, please email us at hats@stetson.edu.