The Department is committed to providing leadership and guidance to ensure that all schools offer a challenging education for gifted and talented students. These students excel in areas such as intellect, creativity, artistry, leadership and specific academic subjects.
In accordance with Board of Education Policy 105-5 (PDF), the goals for supporting gifted and talented students include:
- Setting high curriculum standards that are aligned with the intellectual and social needs of gifted learners.
- Ensuring all schools provide learning opportunities that nurture students with exceptional talents and abilities.
- Offering specialized instruction and services that challenge and engage gifted students at levels that match their capabilities.
- Providing ongoing professional development and training for teachers to better support these students.
- Encouraging active parent participation to build a supportive learning community.
- Establishing a statewide system for identifying gifted students, notifying parents, and evaluating program effectiveness.
Supplemental programs
Center for Talented Youth (CTY)
At the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, Gifted & Talented students discover just how much they can shine with advanced academic summer programs, online courses, awards and more.
Davidson Young Scholars
The Davidson Young Scholars program provides free services designed to nurture the intellectual, social, emotional, and academic development of profoundly intelligent young people between the ages of 5 and 18 (students must be between the ages of 5 and 16 when applying). There are rolling application deadlines throughout the year.
Young Mensans
Members of American Mensa range in age from 2 to 102. They include engineers, homemakers, teachers, actors, athletes, students and CEOs, and they share one trait—high intelligence. To qualify for Mensa, they scored in the top 2% of the general population on an accepted standardized intelligence test. Mensa has full-time staff who support Young Mensans and their families.