Identification
Schools have an obligation to identify and provide services for gifted students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. A student may be referred for screening for gifted by a parent/guardian, a teacher or other staff member, the student themselves or any other individual with knowledge of the student.

Leon County Schools universally screens all second grade students using the STAR assessment results.

The State of Florida defines a gifted student as “one who has superior intellectual development and is capable of high performance.”

Each Leon County School must develop and implement a comprehensive plan to meet the needs of its gifted students as outlined in the Leon County  Schools Procedural Guide for Gifted Education.

Services are provided in the core content areas, depending on students’ needs. Gifted services, however, are not limited to the curriculum and learning environment. Other services must be provided based on the individual needs of the student.

Curriculum differentiation is incorporated to provide flexibility in instruction. Strategies used may include:

• In-depth study
• A high degree of complexity
• Advanced content
• Variety in content, process and/or product
• Acceleration of instruction

Teachers of the gifted must be appropriately endorsed by the State of Florida, on an out-of-field waiver, and working towards endorsement or complete the Leon County In-Field designation for gifted.