Names Matter - What Does the Label Gifted Mean?

Names and labels matter.  There is power in the words we use.  What those words mean can be different for each of us.  Unfortunately the label "gifted" has come with both positive and negative meanings and I believe this is because of the ambiguity associated with the word 'gifted'.  If you are an educator you are born with the perspective of finding the "gift" in every child.  To label certain children as 'gifted' seems to rub us wrong.  Whether you like or agree with the etymology of the word gifted, there is a need for us to know what the definition means and then to quickly move past the label to provide the opportunities and services for these children so they can be learning every day.  So, for the sake of being on the same page, here are the Federal and Idaho State definitions of "gifted".

Federal - The current federal definition of gifted students was originally developed in the 1972 Marland Report to Congress, and has been modified several times since then. The current definition, which is located in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, is Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.

Note: States and districts are not required to use the federal definition, although many states base their definitions on the federal definition.

Idaho:  Gifted/talented children’ mean those students who are identified as possessing demonstrated or potential abilities that give evidence of high performing capabilities in intellectual, creative, specific academic or leadership areas, or the ability in the performing arts or visual arts and who require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop such capabilities.”
(Idaho Code § 33-2001)

In the Middleton School District we label a student "gifted' if they meet this definition by scoring in the 95th percentile on a norm referenced academic or intellectual test or with a building team decision based on multiple data sources.  We also include "advanced" students who may be gifted or showing potential in one academic discipline, but not qualifying across the board at the 95th percentile.  For the Middleton School District the important thing is that we provide services to these students to help them continue to be engaged, learning, and growing to their fullest potential. 

Whether differentiation is happening in the classroom or small group services are provided by one of the GT Facilitators, collaboration with administrators, teachers, and parents is highly important to helping kids succeed.  Teaming with teachers and utilizing data to determine what these curriculum supports more specifically look like is critical. 

Thank you for all you do!

Angie (and Nicole)