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Gifted Education Policies


Utah


State Status: Blue

State Definition of "gifted & talented":
Gifted and talented students’ means children and youth whose superior performance or potential for accomplishment requires a differentiated and challenging education program to meet their needs in any one or more of the following areas:
(1) general intellectual: students who demonstrate a high aptitude for abstract reasoning and conceptualization, who master skills and concepts quickly, and who are exceptionally alert and observant;
(2) specific academic: students who evidence extraordinary learning ability in one or more specific disciplines;
(3) visual and performing arts: students who are consistently superior in the development of a product or performance in any of the visual and performing arts;
(4) leadership: students who emerge as leaders, and who demonstrate high ability to accomplish group goals by working with and through others;
(5) creative, critical or productive thinking; students who are highly insightful, imaginative, and innovative, and who consistently assimilate and synthesize seemingly unrelated information to create new and novel solutions for conventional tasks.”
(Utah Admin. Code § 277-771-1)
State Association: Utah Association for Gifted Children
Governor: Garry Herbert
State Dept. of Ed. - Gifted and Talented: Moya Kessig
State Superintendent: Larry K. Shumway

Statistics

Students enrolled in grades K-12 (2010-2011): 567,245
Students enrolled in grades K-12 (2008-2009): 551,013
Students identified as Gifted and Talented (2010-2011): Unknown
Students identified as Gifted and Talented (2008-2009): 6,864
Dollars allocated for Gifted and Talented programming (2010-2011): $3,494,781
Dollars allocated for Gifted and Talented programming (2009-2010): $3,494,781
Dollars allocated for Gifted and Talented programming (2008-2009): $2,352,462
Percentage of students who took an AP exam in high school (2008-2009): 27.7%
Percentage of students who took an AP exam in high school (2007-2008): 27.7%
Percentage of all students scoring a 3 or above on AP exams (2008-2009): 18.5%
Percentage of all students scoring a 3 or above on AP exams (2007-2008): 18.9%
Number of schools offering International Baccalaureate programs (2009-2010): 11

Click here for statistical information from previous years.

Legislation & Funding

Does the legislation mandate that gifted students be served?
Yes
Does the state require parent/guardian involvement in gifted and talented identification and service decisions?
Yes, at the local level
Does the state require specific criteria/methods to identify gifted students?
Yes
Three assessment instruments
Does the state provide guidance or guidelines for the identification process?
Yes
Is the age or time at which students are identified for gifted programming mandated in your state?
No
Is there legislation that mandates specialized training in gifted education for teachers of gifted students?
No
Does your state require school districts to have a gifted education administrator?
No
Does the state have an acceleration policy?
No state policy; up to local education agencies to determine
Institute for Research and Policy on Acceleration (IRPA) - State Policy page
Does gifted education legislation exist?
Yes
Rule R277-711. Educational Programs for Gifted and Talented Students.

Davidson Gifted Database Resources

  • Day Schools
  • Distance Learning
  • Dual Enrollment
  • Early College
  • Enrichment Programs
  • Gifted Education Degree Programs
  • Homeschooling
  • Online High Schools
  • Summer Programs

    • Other Resources

  • Hoagies: Gifted Education Mandates By State
  • Education Week: Quality Counts 2010 - State Report Cards
  • National Opportunity to Learn Campaign - State Data & Analysis
  • Dept. of Education: Funds for State Formula-Allocated Programs (XLS)
  • National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) State Policy Page

    • Do you have any updates on gifted education in this state? Please click here

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    Information presented on this page was compiled from a variety of resources, including, but not limited to: The STATE of the States in Gifted Education, a report by the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted and the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC); state departments of education, state gifted associations, informational websites and other organizations. The Davidson Institute for Talent Development has not verified the accuracy of all information and does not warrant its accuracy or fitness of use for any purpose. Users should verify information prior to taking any action. Furthermore, the appearance of selected programs and/or resources does not imply an endorsement or affiliation. Programs and resources are highlighted for informational purposes only.