GT for Educators

The resources below are intended to support schools and educators in meeting the needs of gifted learners by helping them:

1. Understand South Carolina’s Gifted and Talented identification criteria and processes.

2. Understand Greenville County Schools’ service models for identified gifted learners.

3. Navigate the referral, evaluation, and reevaluation process for gifted and talented services.

4. Strengthen instruction to increase engagement, challenge, and achievement growth for gifted learners.

Regulation 43-220 requires "each teacher of a state-funded gifted and talented course or class shall have completed a gifted and talented endorsement program approved by the SCDE." 

Teacher Qualifications

(a) Teachers must hold valid teaching certificates appropriate to the grade level(s) or subject area(s) included in the programming.
(b) Each teacher of a state-funded gifted and talented course or class shall have completed a gifted and talented endorsement program approved by the SCDE.

• In Greenville County Schools, gifted and talented services are offered in elementary schools via Challenge 3, Challenge 4, and Challenge 5. Teachers of these classes must have initial certification in Early Childhood or Elementary Education as well as the SC GT Endorsement.

• In Greenville County Schools, gifted and talented services are offered in middle and high schools via English 6 GT, English 7 GT, English 1 H, English 2 H, English 3 H, English 4 H and all honors level math classes.  Teachers of these classes must have initial certification in their content area as well as the SC GT Endorsement.

The minimal credential level required will be established by the SCDE (see ablove). (1) Exception 1: Newly assigned teachers will have one year to meet gifted and talented endorsement requirements. (2) Exception 2: Teachers who have a master’s degree or higher in gifted education from an accredited Institution of Higher Learning may have this requirement waived upon approval of credentials by the SCDE. 

The South Carolina Department of Education supports teachers in obtaining the endorsement through the Gifted and Talented (GT) Graduate Course Program Grant that is awarded to South Carolina institutions of higher education in order to provide teacher endorsement activities (graduate courses) for teachers assigned to teach gifted and talented students. Funding will be provided for tuition-free graduate courses for teachers who are pursuing either endorsement or certification in GT education. The GT grant-funded courses will be released as they become available.

• Coastal Carolina University

• Converse University

• Lander University