Arkansas Department of Education

Gifted & Talented and Advanced Placement

 

All students identified as gifted and talented in the state have the right to an appropriate education.

Responding to the concern for educational programming for gifted and talented students, the Arkansas General Assembly passed Act 106 of 1979. This legislation established the Office for the Gifted & Talented and Advanced Placement. Funds were appropriated to provide financial assistance to school districts operating programs for gifted and talented students. Guidelines were developed to provide information to assist districts in planning, implementing, and evaluating those programs.

 

Definition

The following definition shall guide districts in providing services and opportunities for students identified as gifted and talented:

Gifted and talented children and youth are those of high potential or ability whose learning characteristics and educational needs require qualitatively differentiated educational experiences and/or services.

Possession of these talents and gifts, or the potential for their development, will be evidenced through an interaction of above average intellectual ability, task commitment and /or motivation, and creative ability.

Arkansas Laws

The following laws can be found on the Arkansas Legislature's Arkansas Code website:

1.  Advanced Placement and Endorsed Concurrent Enrollment 

• 6-16-1201. Purpose.
• 6-16-1202. Definitions.
• 6-16-1203. Teacher skills and training.
• 6-16-1204. Implementation.
• 6-16-1206. Exemption.

2.  Arkansas Advanced Placement Incentive Program

• 6-16-802. Purpose.
• 6-16-803. Definitions.
• 6-16-804. Established - Subsidies - Rules and regulations.
• 6-16-805. Funding.
• 6-16-806. Treatment as advanced placement course.

3.  Advanced Placement Course as Core Curriculum

• 6-15-214. Advanced placement course counted as core curriculum course taught.

 

Annual Program Approval Application

From Arkansas Code:

6-42-109. Reports by school districts.

Each school district shall report annually to the Arkansas Department of Education, at a prescribed due date, the extent to which it is providing educational opportunities specifically designed to meet the educational needs of gifted and talented children.

 

Arkansas Governor's School

Arkansas Governor's School (AGS) is a four-week residential, educational summer program designed for upcoming high school seniors with exceptional abilities, creativity, and maturity. Participants attend classes and many special events, including concerts, theatrical productions, lectures, and films. They participate in service projects, recreational activities, and social gatherings. The atmosphere of AGS is charged with intellectual, cultural, and social excitement. Participants take away a heightened appreciation of their own talents, a deeper sense of their relationship to their communities, and a more intense intellectual curiosity.

Students must be nominated by their schools to apply. Counselors, gifted and talented coordinators or teachers should be working through the nomination criteria with interested students. Completed applications are due from schools at the end of January. They are reviewed by state-appointed AGS selection committees and selections are announced in April.  For more information visit the Arkansas Governor's School official website.

 

For more information, please contact: