Welcome to Gifted Education for Parents
The Arizona Department of Education is committed to academic achievement for all students. Gifted Education in Arizona is required by state statute at all public-school districts. Charter school districts may elect to provide gifted education services. Each school district is able to tailor the gifted program and as such, gifted programs may differ from one school district to another.
Gifted Education champions the academic, intellectual, and affective development of Arizona’s gifted and advanced learnings through ensuring gifted learners in Arizona receive an appropriate gifted education commensurate with their abilities and potential.
The following resources for identifying Gifted Learners are provided by Project Bright Horizon by the Jacob K. Javits Gifted & Talented Education Grant Program, supported through a research and demonstration grant by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement.
The following are resources for gifted learners, parents, and educators.
Arizona Resources:
- Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented (AAGT)
- Arizona Future Problem Solving Program
- Arizona Odyssey of the Mind
- ASU Tempe Math Circle: FREE to High School Students
- ASU Barrett Summer Scholars (summer enrichment program for gifted students grades 7, 8 and 9)
- U of A: Curriculum, Lesson Plans and Activities
- Discover Projects
- Herberger Young Scholars Academy, (Grades 7-12)
- The International Gifted Consortium, a Research Center for the Highly & Profoundly Gifted Students
National Resources:
- GTDiscover
- California Association for the Gifted
- Davidson Institute
- Destination ImagiNation
- Genius Denied
- Hoagies Gifted Education
- The International Gifted Consortium, a Research Center for the Highly & Profoundly Gifted Students
- Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth
- Johns Hopkins: Connecting Young Thinkers Around the World
- NAGC - National Association for Gifted Children
- Neag Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development
- Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development
- Purdue University’s Gifted Education Resource Institute (GERI)
- SENG - Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted
- The College Board Advanced Placement
Q. Are gifted education programs mandated in Arizona?
A. Yes. gifted education is mandated for all public school districts. All school districts must both identify gifted learners and provide appropriate educational programs and services for gifted learners that are an “integrated, differentiated learning experience during the regular school day” in all grades K-12. Charter schools are not required to provide gifted education services, though some have chosen to do so.
Q. We are moving into Arizona, or from one school district to another within Arizona. How will my child’s identification as a gifted learner be affected?
A. If your child was identified as a gifted learner through using a test from our State Board Approved Test List, and scored at the 97th percentile in any one of three reasoning categories (Verbal, Nonverbal or Quantitative Reasoning) – then your child must be identified as gifted by an Arizona school district within a timely manner, as soon as the district has verified eligibility.
Q. Why don’t gifted learners have IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) and other safeguards similar to special education learners?
A. Federal law has established policies and procedures for special education, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – which requires IEPs for special education learners. Gifted education policies and procedures, however, are solely established through state law.
Q. How do I obtain gifted testing for my child who is not enrolled in a public-school district or participating charter school?
A. If your child is not enrolled in a public-school district or participating charter school, it may benefit you to reach out to your local public school to inquire about non-enrolled testing options. Testing with one of the Arizona State Board Approved tests for gifted students can be done by qualified professionals and resources are available through organizations like Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented.
