Gifted & Talented Programs

Laws, Rules & Legislation

The following state laws and administrative rules determine how gifted and talented education is provided and funded:

Iowa Code 256.11 details the required educational standards which included gifted and talented programs.

Iowa Code 257.42 states as part of their school improvement plan, school boards must annually submit program plans for gifted and talented children programs and budget costs to the Department.

Iowa Code 257.44 defines gifted and talented children.

Iowa Code 257.46 and Iowa Code 257.8 describe gifted and talented funding.

Iowa Administrative Code 281-12.5(12) describes the provisions gifted and talented students requirements in the state's General Accreditation Standards for schools.

Iowa Administrative Code 281-59

Gifted and Talented Education in Iowa Definition and Funding Law References

Gifted and Talented Funding in Iowa Law References

Gifted & Talented Plan Requirements for CASA Submission

Iowa Code 257.43 Program plans. The program plans submitted by school districts shall be part of the school improvement plan submitted pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 21, paragraph “a”, and shall include all of the following:

1. Program goals, objectives, and activities to meet the needs of gifted and talented children.
2. Student identification criteria and procedures.
3. Staff in-service education design.
4. Staff utilization plans.
5. Evaluation criteria and procedures and performance measures.
6. Program budget.
7. Qualifications required of personnel administering the program.
8. Other factors the department requires. 89 Acts, ch 135, §43; 99 Acts, ch 178, §6, 10.

Guidelines for Gifted and Talented Program Plan

Allocations

2024-25 TAG Allocations

2023-24 TAG Allocations

2022-23 TAG Allocations

2021-22 TAG Allocations

Prior years are available upon request.

Talented and Gifted Funding included in the District Cost Per Pupil (DCPP) and required local match to be taken from the Regular Program District Cost (RPDC)

*The local match is always approximate because it is calculated on a total for the program rather than an individual basis.

Prior years are available upon request.

Gifted Licensure Endorsement

The Iowa Board of Education Examiners (BOEE) is responsible for providing leadership in practitioner licensure as well as practitioner rights, responsibilities, practices and ethics.

The holder of the gifted endorsement is authorized to serve as a teacher or a coordinator of programs for the gifted and talented from the pre-kindergarten level through grade twelve. This authorization does not permit general classroom teaching at any level except that level or area for which the holder is eligible or holds the specific endorsement.

Visit the PK-12 Talented & Gifted endorsement webpage application, checklist and program requirements.

Iowa Colleges and Universities offering endorsement courses:

• Buena Vista University
• Drake University
• Morningside College
• University of Iowa
• Upper Iowa University

Iowa Resources

Belin-Blank Center - Gifted Education and Talent Development - Located at the University of Iowa, the Belin-Blank Center's mission is to empower and serve the international gifted community through exemplary leadership in programs, research, and advocacy.

A Nation Deceived - This national report highlights the disparity between the research on acceleration and the educational beliefs and practices that often run contrary to the research.

Guidelines for Developing an Academic Acceleration Policy - These guidelines provide educators and policy makers with guidance to create a vision grounded in research and to adopt policy to support this vision for the K–12 grade students who require an accelerated learning pace and advanced curriculum that assures student academic success.

Iowa Acceleration Scale (3rd Edition) - A tool to help schools make effective decisions regarding a grade-skip. The IAS guides a child study team (including educators, teachers, parents, and other professionals) through a discussion of the academic and social characteristics of the student.

Iowa Talented and Gifted Association (ITAG) - Iowa's association of interested parents, educators, and concerned citizens dedicated to meeting the needs of talented and gifted children and youth. ITAG was organized more than 25 years ago with a vision that gifted/talented children in the state of Iowa should receive an education commensurate with their abilities and needs and is an affiliate of the National Association for Gifted Children.

National Resources

National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) - A non-profit organization of parents, teachers, educators, community leaders and other professionals who unite to address the unique needs of all children and youth.

Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted Children (SENG) - Dedicated to fostering environments in which gifted adults and children, in all their diversity, understand and accept themselves and are understood, valued, nurtured, and supported by their families, schools, workplaces, and communities.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) - The largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides professional development, advocates for individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.

Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, and Talent Development at the University of Connecticut - The only federally funded research organization, known as The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented (NRC/GT), has existed since 1990 with various university partnerships. As of 2006, the University of Connecticut partnership is with the University of Virginia. The current research studies for the NRC/GT are an integrated approach to identifying, serving, and evaluating academic outcomes.

College of William and Mary - Center for Gifted Education - A research and development center that provides services to educators, policy makers, graduate students, researchers, parents and students in support of the needs of gifted and talented individuals.

Davidson Institute for Talent Development - Formed in 1999, the Davidson Institute is a 501(c)3 private operating foundation funded by Bob and Jan Davidson. Our mission is to recognize, nurture, and support profoundly intelligent young people and to provide opportunities for them to develop their talents to make a positive difference.