Definition

SE BOCES follows the Colorado Exceptional Children’s Education Act (ECEA) definition of “gifted student” in order to maintain consistency in identification and to ensure that identified students receive the appropriate programming to best help them achieve their highest potential. The ECEA rules state "Gifted and talented children" means 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.

(section 12.01(16) ECEA Rules)