G/T Student Profile
The Gifted and Talented Education Program in Howard County Public Schools is based on two definitions of giftedness, which serve as the foundation for talent development and student participation in the program. These definitions of giftedness assist educators in matching student needs with Gifted and Talented Education Program services.
Gifted behavior reflects an interaction among three basic clusters of human traits: above average ability, high levels of task commitment, and high levels of creativity. Students demonstrating gifted behaviors are those possessing, or who are capable of developing, this composite set of traits and who can apply them to any potentially valuable area of human performance. (Adapted from Joseph S. Renzulli’s (University of Connecticut) definition, taken from The Revolving Door Identification Model, 1981.)
Gifted and talented students are defined as children and youth who give evidence of high performance capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school order to fully develop such capabilities.
(Annotated Code of Maryland, 8.201.202).
The Annotated Code of Maryland defines a gifted and talented student as “an elementary or secondary student who is identified by professionally qualified individuals as:
(1) Having outstanding talent and performing, or showing the potential for performing, at remarkably high levels of
accomplishment when compared with other students of a similar age, experience, or environment;
(2) Exhibiting high performance capability in intellectual, creative, or artistic areas;
(3) Possessing an unusual leadership capacity; or
(4) Excelling in specific academic fields.
Student Characteristics for Successful Performance in G/T Classes:
• Attains new concepts quickly
• Expresses interest and curiosity in complex issues related to content
• Demonstrates high-level thinking and advanced problem-solving ability
• Exceeds general curricular expectations
• Completes high quality assignments and advanced products
• Initiates independent learning
• Considers alternate pathways
• Shows creativity and originality