Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)

Definition: Gifted and Talented Students

Gifted and Talented students are those who perform at or show the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who exhibit high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area, possess an usual capacity for leadership, and/or excel in a specific academic field. Gifted and Talented students are also defined as those who excel in their ability to think, reason, judge, invent, or create to the degree that they need special facilities and/or educational services in order that they may have the opportunity to achieve their potential while making increased meaningful contributions to society. Students shall be identified through the use of multiple criteria as specified by the Hillsboro Independent School District. The District recognizes that students identified as gifted and talented can come from all races, socio-economic groups, geographical locales, and environments.

Gifted Education in Texas

In 1977, the Texas Legislature passed its first legislation concerning the education of gifted students. In 1979, state funds for providing services to gifted children were made available, but providing such services was optional for school districts. In 1987, The Texas Legislature mandated that all school districts must identify and serve gifted students at all grade levels. In 1990, The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students was adopted, and in 1999 the Texas Performance Standards Project for Gifted/Talented Students was created. Today, Texas educators are committed to meeting the unique needs of gifted students and to expanding the ways we do so.

For more information, please contact: