Aurora Public Schools Advanced Academics and Gifted Services logo with the phrase "Challenging the edge of potential"

Gifted and Talented Education

Students

Definition of Gifted and Talented

Gifted children means those persons between the ages of four and twenty-one whose aptitude or competence in abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment in one or more domains are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs.

Gifted students include gifted students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic and ethnic, cultural populations. Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of these areas of giftedness:

  • General or specific intellectual ability
  • Creative or productive thinking
  • Specific academic aptitude- reading, writing, math, science, social studies
  • Leadership abilities
  • Visual arts, drama/theater, dance, music, or psychomotor (movement) abilities

Gifted Children’s Bill of Rights

Gifted children have the right to:

  • know about your giftedness.
  • learn something new everyday.
  •  be passionate about your talent area without apologies.
  •  have an identity beyond your talent area.
  •  feel good about your accomplishments.
  • make mistakes.
  • seek guidance in the development of your talent.
  • have multiple peer groups and a variety of friends.
  • choose which of your talent areas you wish to pursue.
  • not to be gifted at everything. 

Written by Del Siegle (NAGC President, 2007 - 2009)


Students

Referral for Gifted Identification

Teachers, school staff, parents, students, and community members may refer a student to go through the gifted identification process.  A body of evidence including classroom work samples, assessment data, and surveys from a variety of stakeholders will be reviewed to make a determination of gifted or high potential ability following guidelines set forth by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). If you have any questions, please contact the GT Facilitator at the school, Misti Smith:  [email protected] 

English:

2024-2025 Gifted Education Referral Form

Spanish:

2024-2025 Spanish Gifted Education Referral Form

Contact Person

GT Facilitator:

Misti Smith 

[email protected]

303-755-7160 ext. 27272