North Carolina mandates that all public schools identify and serve academically or intellectually gifted (AIG) K-12 students. However, it is left up to each Local Education Agency (LEA) to determine how they are going to identify and serve their own student populations. This part of the legislation gives LEAs across our state anatomy on how to best serve their own students. The legislation does make it clear though that all LEAs must complete their own AIG plan using the NC AIG Program Standards. These local AIG plans will be submitted to the local boards and once approved sent to the State Board of Education to be reviewed. All plans will only remain in effect for 3 years but may be amended as often it is considered necessary or appropriate.
The state legislation guides LEAs by providing a state definition of AIG and providing standards that can be used within each LEAs local plan. The State Board of Education works with LEAs to support them in implementation, development, and evaluation of their local plans.
State Definition of AIG Students, Article 9B (N.C.G.S. § 115C-150.5)
Academically or intellectually gifted (AIG) students perform or show the potential to perform at substantially high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experiences or environment. Academically or intellectually gifted students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual areas, specific academic fields, or in both the intellectual areas and specific academic fields. Academically or intellectually gifted students require differentiated educational services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular educational program. Outstanding abilities are present in students from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.