What It Means
Gifted and talented describes students who show the capability for high achievement in one or more areas and who need something beyond the regular program to develop it. The federal definition in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act names intellectual, creative, artistic and leadership capacity, along with specific academic fields. Federal law defines the term but doesn't require schools to offer gifted services, so who counts as gifted, how they're identified and what they receive is decided by each state and, often, each district.
Try It: Step Through What to Ask Your District
Four questions to ask your district, one at a time. Gifted rules differ from place to place, so the district's answer is the one that counts.
Where a state has no gifted mandate, NAGC says each district decides whether to identify students at all.
Ask which grades are screened, what measures are used, and how a parent or teacher can refer a child.
Services vary from state to state and district to district, so ask what happens during the school week.
The federal Javits program focuses on students who are underrepresented in gifted programs, including English learners and students with disabilities.
How Parents Say It
- "She tested into the gifted program."
- "Is GT pull-out or a separate class here?"
- "We're asking for him to be screened for gifted."
The Breakdown
Who decides what, level by level
| Level | What it does | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Federal | Defines gifted and talented in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and funds the Javits research and demonstration program | ED; NAGC |
| Federal | Sets no mandate for gifted services and sends no direct funding to districts for them | NAGC |
| State | Makes almost all decisions, and either sets rules districts must follow on identification and services or leaves it to them | NAGC |
| District | Where the state has no mandate, decides whether and how to identify students and what to offer | NAGC |
The areas in the federal definition
- Intellectual
- Creative
- Artistic
- Leadership
- Specific academic fields
When to talk to the school. If your child is far ahead of classmates in an area and seems unchallenged, ask the teacher how the district identifies gifted students and how to request a screening. Ask for the screening dates in writing. If your child is advanced and also struggling in another way, read Buhata's page on twice-exceptionalTwice exceptionalA child who is gifted and also has a disability, such as a learning disability, ADHD or autism, as the National Association for Gifted Children defines it; often written 2e. See more students.
Where It Comes From
The Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act was first passed by Congress in 1988 as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and was reauthorized through the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015, according to NAGC.
Good to Know
NAGC says there's no federal mandate for gifted education, so services vary widely from one state, and one district, to the next. The Department of Education's Javits program funds research and demonstration projects, with a focus on students traditionally underrepresented in gifted programs, and it posted a fiscal year 2026 application notice. Check your state education agency's site and your district's handbook for the rules where you live.
FAQ
Are schools required to have gifted programs?
Not under federal law. NAGC says there's no federal mandate, so it depends on your state's rules and, where the state leaves it open, your district.
What is the federal definition of gifted and talented?
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act covers students who show they're capable of high achievement in an intellectual, creative, artistic or leadership area, or in a particular academic subject. The definition adds that they need services beyond what the school usually offers to develop that ability.
How do I get my child tested for gifted?
Ask your child's teacher or the district's gifted coordinator how identification works and when screening happens. Your state or district sets the process, so a dated request in writing is a good start.
Do It in Buhata
Calendar and Countdown
Put your district's gifted screening date on the Calendar in Buhata and add a Countdown to it so the referral window doesn't slip by.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Twice exceptional
A child who is gifted and also has a disability, such as a learning disability, ADHD or autism, as the National Association for Gifted Children defines it; often written 2e.
- Standardized testing
Tests given and scored the same way for every student; in U.S. public schools, mainly the yearly state tests in reading, math and science that ESSA requires.
- MAP test
NWEA's MAP Growth, a computer-adaptive test schools give a few times a year to measure growth in reading, math and other subjects on a scale called RIT.
- Parent-teacher conference
A short scheduled meeting between a parent and a child's teacher to talk about how the child is doing in school and how to help at home.
- Executive function
The mental skills that let a person plan, focus, remember instructions and control impulses: working memory, mental flexibility and self-control.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education, "Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program (84.206A)"; U.S. Department of Education, "Legislation, Regulations and Guidance: Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program"; U.S. Department of Education, Javits fiscal year 2026 application notice; National Association for Gifted Children, "Jacob Javits Gifted & Talented Students Education Act"; National Association for Gifted Children, "Frequently Asked Questions about Gifted Education"
- www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-birth-grade-12/well-rounded-education-grants/jacob-k-javits-gifted-and-talented-students-education-program-84206a
- www2.ed.gov/programs/javits/legislation.html
- www.ed.gov/media/document/fy-2026-84206a-javits-application-notice-and-instructions-113864.pdf
- www.nagc.org/jacob-javits-gifted-and-talented-students-education-act
- www.nagc.org/frequently-asked-questions-about-gifted-education
Last updated .