Gifted and Talented Programs and Services

Gifted and talented children and youth are students with outstanding abilities. These abilities are identified at preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. Gifted students need educational programs or services that are different and more challenging than what is in the general school program.

A gifted and talented student has shown achievement or potential ability in one or more of these areas: 

• general intellectual 
• specific academic subjects
• creativity
• leadership, and 
• visual & performing arts.

If a district or charter school offers gifted programs and services, then it MUST adopt identification procedures that:

• Assess and identify the students.
• Enable their academic acceleration.
• Prepare teachers to best meet the unique needs of gifted and talented students.

The procedures developed should be sensitive to underrepresented groups including low-income, minority, students with disabilities, and English learners.

• Be aware of your child’s skills. This includes things like test scores and other areas showing advanced performance. Each child is different, and giftedness can show in different ways.
   
• Be aware of your district’s process for identifying students and the services they offer.
   
• If you believe your child is not challenged enough or may need faster paced learning, communicate your concerns with the classroom teacher and/or school principal.

Each district or charter school decides the kinds of programs and services they offer. The information can be found on their websites.

Programs can include a variety of services including:

• Early Kindergarten Admission
• Differentiated Classroom Instruction
• Enrichment Classes
• Course or Subject Acceleration
• Grade Level Acceleration
• Advanced Placement Classes
• International Baccalaureate

MDE Website
www.education.mn.gov/mde/fam/gifted

MN Council for Gifted & Talented
www.mcgt.net

Nat. Center for Research on Gifted Education
www.ncrge.uconn.edu/el-tips/

Nat. Association for Gifted Children
www.nagc.org

Academic Acceleration Institute
www.accelerationinstitute.org