What is Giftedness?
“Gifted and talented children are those possessing or capable of developing above average ability, creativity, and task commitment and applying them to any potentially valuable area of human performance.”
--Dr. Joseph Renzulli, University of Connecticut
The State of Maine Chapter 104 guidelines recognize the identification of gifted students in the following categories:
General Intellectual Ability as shown by demonstrated significant achievement or potential for significant accomplishment above their age peers and all academic areas.
Specific Academic Aptitude as shown by demonstrated significant achievement or potential for significant accomplishment above their age peers in one or more academic areas.
Artistic Ability as shown by demonstrated significant achievement or potential for significant accomplishment above their age peers in the literary performing and/or visual arts.
The SAIL Program is designed to address the academic and emotional needs of gifted students in grades kindergarten through 12. The program provides a learning atmosphere and support system that appropriately challenges gifted students.
According to the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), "Gifted individuals are those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains. Domains include any structured area of activity with its own symbol system (e.g., mathematics, music, language) and/or set of sensorimotor skills (e.g., painting, dance, sports)."
