Gifted and Talented Definitions

What does it mean to be gifted?

There are many definitions for what it means to be gifted and talented. The definitions provided here are the Federal definition and the Minnesota definition. Each state has its own definition.

The following national and Minnesota definitions of gifted and talented guide the New Prague Area Schools Talent Development Program.

• Federal Definition

• The current definition of "gifted and talented" appeared in the 1993 "ERIC ED359743: National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent." report published by the United States Department of Education. The definition is as follows:

• Children and youth with outstanding talent perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment. These children and youth exhibit high performance capability in intellectual, creative, and/or artistic areas, possess an unusual leadership capacity, or excel in specific academic fields. They require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the schools. Outstanding talents are present in children and youth from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.

• Minnesota Definition

• The Minnesota Department of Education offers a similar definition that guides New Prague Area Schools:

• Gifted and talented children and youth are those students with outstanding abilities, identified at preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. The potential of gifted students requires differentiated and challenging educational programs or services beyond those provided in the general school program. Students capable of high performance include those with demonstrated achievement or potential ability in one or more of these areas: general intellectual, specific academic subjects, creativity, leadership, and visual/performing arts.

  • Approved by the Minnesota Department of Education, August 2005