Glossary of Gifted Terms

A Glossary of Common Terms and Definitions for Gifted Education

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

A

Above Level Assessment

Assessment that measures performance above the grade level of the student’s age peers, addressing the instructional level or coursework (knowledge, skills, application) of the individual student.  May also be referred to as an "off-level assessment."

Academic Aptitude

Exceptional capability or potential in an academic content area(s) (e.g., a strong knowledge base or the ability to ask insightful, pertinent questions within the discipline, etc.).

View more information about academic aptitude

Acceleration

Moving through a curriculum at a faster pace.  A student may be “content accelerated” meaning he/she receives instruction in a specific content area, such as math, above his/her chronological grade-level placement.  In rare cases, a highly gifted student may be “grade-level” accelerated meaning he/she skips a grade.  Early access into kindergarten or first grade is a form of acceleration.  See, "telescoping" for an additional acceleration strategy. 

Achievement Test

A standardized assessment designed to measure how well a student can demonstrate knowledge of a specific skill or within a particular content area.

Affective Development

Pertains to the social and emotional (psychosocial) development and competencies of gifted students to include:  personal, social, communication, leadership and cultural competencies.  Students have an annual affective goal aligned to one of the competencies or post-secondary readiness.

View more information about Affective Development

Aptitude

To excel in performance in a specific area.

Assessment

Methods, tools, and data collected as a body of evidence for use in the following gifted education processes: Identification and programming; Monitoring the gifted child’s performance and outcomes; and Program evaluation.

B

Body of Evidence (BOE)

Qualitative and quantitative data from a variety of sources that helps identify a gifted student and/or monitor learning and growth.

C

Cluster grouping

Assigning multiple gifted students to a specific class within their grade-level. 

Cognitive Assessment

An assessment that measures a student’s ability to think, reason, and solve problems.

Commensurate Growth

The academic and affective progress that can be measured and should be expected of a gifted student given the student’s level of achievement, learning needs, and abilities matched with the appropriate instructional level.

Compacting

Shortens or eliminates work the student already knows.  Replacement assignments enable a more challenging or productive use of a student’s time.

Criterion-referenced Assessment

An assessment that measures a student’s mastery of specific content or skills. The assessment does not compare the student to other students.  An example is a math test at the end of a unit or semester.

D

Differentiation

Adapting the pace, level, or kind of instructional curriculum to meet each student’s individual learning needs, styles, readiness, or interests.  Learning opportunities are differentiated by content (what is being taught), process (how content is taught), process (how learning is demonstrated), and/or environment (where learning takes place). 

Duel Enrollment (Wake Tech's Career and College Promise Program)

Wake Tech’s Career and College Promise (CCP) program – often referred to as "Dual Enrollment"  –  offers eligible high school students the opportunity to earn a credential for employment or credits toward an associate's degree. In some cases, students can also earn dual credit – meeting high school credit requirements with college courses. 

Visit CCP Website

E

Early Kindergarten Entry

A child can apply for Early Kindergarten Entry (EKE) if they meet certain criteria. A candidate for Early Kindergarten Entry must show advanced development in intellectual, academic, social and emotional maturity in addition to an interest in learning, and meet an age cutoff. 

Learn More about EK

English learners or English Language Learners (EL or ELL).

Those who learn English as a second language (ESL).

View Office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education website

Enrichment

Going broader into a topic of study; representing a topic as thematic or multi-disciplinary; enhancing grade-level content standards to show relevance and application of skills and knowledge.  Enrichment is an instructional strategy appropriate for all students. 

Extension

Going deeper into the content; extending the curriculum beyond what is typical or expected in a class or in a grade-level; acquiring new ideas, skills or concepts aligned to the content area.  Extension is an instructional strategy appropriate for advanced students ready to move beyond grade-level expectations.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

ESSA is the federal law pertaining to elementary and secondary education. ESSA replaced the No Child Left Behind legislation. ESSA includes provisions for gifted education and consideration of gifted student needs in use of federal fund

F

Fiscal Year (FY)

Fiscal Year  (FY25 = July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025; budgets are reported by fiscal year expenditures as is the end-of-year report data)

Flexible grouping

Grouping students for an assignment, unit, or project based on interest or readiness.  Groups are fluid and change as new curriculum is taught. 

G

Gifted Child

The Exceptional Children's Educational Act (ECEA) defines "gifted" children as:

Those persons between the ages of four and twenty-one whose aptitude or competence in abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment in one or more domains are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Gifted children are hereafter referred to as gifted students. 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, ethnic, and 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 12.01(16)

H

Higher Level Learning

Asking students to use a higher-level of thinking, reasoning, and/or problem solving.  Moving students from just knowing or comprehending facts, to a level of application or evaluation of information.  Increasing the depth and complexity of learning.

I

Identification (ID)

Processes and procedures used to formally identify a student as gifted according to the state definition. 

J

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K

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L

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M

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

MTSS is a prevention-based framework of team-driven data-based problem solving for improving the outcomes of every student through family, school, and community partnering and layered continuum of evidence-based practices applied at the classroom, school, district, region, and state level.

N

National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)

NAGC is a non-profit organization of parents, teachers, educators, other professionals and community leaders who unite to address the unique needs of children and youth with demonstrated gifts and talents as well as those children who may be able to develop their talent potential with appropriate educational experiences.

Access the NAGC website

Network

A regional group of AUs that are served by a GERC; networks meet periodically throughout the year for technical assistance and professional development.

View more information about GERCs

Norm-referenced Assessment

An assessment that compares a student’s results to a large group of similar students (referred to a “norming group”).

North Carolina Association for Gifted and Talented (NCAGT)

State affiliate of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC).

Visit NCCAGT website

North Carolina Standard Course of Study

The North Carolina Standard Course of Study provides a framework for what students should learn at each grade level and subject, ensuring consistent educational standards across the state. 

View the standards here

O

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P

Perfectionism

A combination of thoughts and behaviors generally associated with high standards or expectations for one’s own performance.  Can lead to positive or negative results in gifted children.

Performance Assessment

An assessment based on observation and judgment. It has two parts: the task and the criteria for judging quality. Students complete a task, and the task is evaluated by judging the level of quality using a rubric.

Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS). 

PBIS is the behavioral component of MTSS.

View more information about PBIS

Progress Monitoring

Practices and tools utilized to assess a student’s ongoing performance on academic and affective goals.

Pull-out programs

A specific delivery of instruction where a student leaves his/her regular classroom setting to attend a specialized class typically taught by a resource teacher. 

Q

Qualified Personnel

A licensed educator with an endorsement or higher degree in gifted education. Principals are encouraged to hire qualified personnel to administer their gifted programs.  The position is funded through specialized funds through the state budget.

R

Response to Intervention (RtI)

RtI is a framework that promotes a well-integrated system connecting general, compensatory, gifted, and special education in providing high quality, standards-based instruction and intervention that is matched to students' academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs.

Rubric

A rubric is a research-based chart that defines criteria for evaluation and provides levels of attainment.

S

SMART Goals

Academic and affective ALP goals must be: Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

View more information about ALP

T

Talent Development

Programs and services designed to identify and nurture the abilities of gifted and high-potential students, providing them with advanced learning opportunities and resources to support their academic and personal growth. 

Twice Exceptional (2e)

2e is a gifted student who also has an IEP or 504.

U

Underachievement

School performance that falls short of a student’s potential and/or ability. 

Universal Screening

The systematic assessment of all students at a grade level for the purpose of identifying exceptional ability or potential, especially in underrepresented populations. Universal screening is a practice that promotes more equitable identification of all student groups. 

V

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W

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X

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Y

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Z

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