What is GiftedNess?

What is giftedness? Every school district, education professional, private or government organization, state or country, defines giftedness in different ways. There isn't a single definition that completely explains who a gifted individual is or one test or screening that allows us to accurately identify an individual as gifted.

Gifted children may be academically high achievers, under-achievers, or they may not achieve and be unsuccessful in the classroom environment. Some gifted children, called "twice exceptional", have hidden learning disabilities that mask their giftedness or their giftedness masks their disability and they require special instructional interventions.

Eagle County School District Definition of Gifted & Talented

The Eagle County School District uses the same definition as the Colorado Department of Education, www.cde.state.co.us/gt/index.htm, which defines gifted and talented children as:

" those persons between the ages of five and twenty-one whose abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Children under five who are gifted may also be provided with early childhood special educational services. Gifted students include gifted students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic and ethnic, cultural populations. Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of these areas of giftedness:

• General or specific intellectual ability.
• Specific academic aptitude.
• Creative or productive thinking.
• Leadership abilities.
• Visual arts, performing arts, musical or psychomotor abilities."