Gifted Education or Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) or Talented and Gifted (TAG) are school programs designed for students who show 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 to fully develop those capabilities.
These programs, policies, and the funding for them vary from state to state and among schools and school districts. The only federal program for gifted children is the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, which focuses on identifying and serving students who are traditionally under-represented in gifted and talented programs—such as minority students, students from low-income backgrounds or who are English language learners, and children with disabilities.
The Javits program is designed to help reduce gaps in achievement and to encourage the establishment of equal educational opportunities for all U.S. students. The program funds applied research and the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. In fiscal year 2017 the Javits program received $12 million in federal funds.
Visit https://www.nagc.org/gifted-state for more information on gifted programs available in your state, including agency and association contact information.
In Texas, Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs are designed to cater to students who demonstrate exceptional abilities in various domains. The state mandates through the Texas Education Code that school districts must identify and serve gifted and talented students. Consequently, each school district in Texas is required to provide a comprehensive GATE program that includes identification processes, specialized instruction, and program evaluation. The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students outlines the standards for services that districts must meet, which includes professional development for educators, curriculum and instruction design, and program assessment. Funding for these programs is allocated by the state legislature and can vary annually. While the federal Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act provides additional support, particularly for under-represented groups, it is not the primary source of funding for GATE programs in Texas. Instead, state and local funds are the main financial resources for these educational initiatives.
