Gifted and Talented
Office of School Programs - Department of Instructional Strategy
- Phone:
- (512) 463-9581
- Email:
- gted@tea.texas.gov
Texas State Plan for the Education of the Gifted Talented
Welcome to the gifted/talented (G/T) education webpage. The state's goal for G/T students is to ensure that students who participate in G/T services demonstrate self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communication skills. G/T students develop innovative products and sophisticated performances that reflect individuality and creativity and are targeted to an audience outside the classroom.
A gifted/talented student is a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who
- exhibits high-performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area;
- possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or
- excels in a specific academic field. (Texas Education Code §29.121)
The following G/T resources assist local education agencies in certifying to the commissioner that the district has established a program for G/T students as required by rule, and it is consistent with the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students (State Plan) under Texas Education Code Section 29.123 and the use of the funds on the district’s program for G/T as provided by the State Board of Education rule.
Texas State Plan
The State Plan provides requirements for and guidance to districts as they meet the unique needs of the gifted/talented population in Texas.
The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students (State Plan) - revised 2024.
English Version (PDF, 160 KB)
Spanish Version (PDF, 181 KB)
For a print-ready file allowing you to produce an English - Spanish flip version of the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, please e-mail gted@tea.texas.gov.
Gifted/Talented Mailing List
Professional Development
The 30 hours of G/T foundational training, 6 hours of update, and administrator/counselor training are coordinated by the local district.
- Required Gifted/Talented Teacher Training (PDF, 16.9 KB)
- Gifted and Talented (Supplemental) (SBEC Standards)
School board training and other trainings are available through the regional Education Service Centers (ESCs).
Gifted/Talented Education Resources
The following links provide support for G/T instruction and program services.
Related Content
The Texas Education Code on Gifted/Talented Education, TEC Subchapter D. Educational Programs for Gifted/Talented Students §29.121-§29.123 and §48.109
The Texas Administrative Code on Gifted/Talented Education (TAC) §89.1-§89.5
Reading Strategies for Advanced Primary Readers (PDF, 12,811KB)
The Texas Performance Standards Project (outside source)
Texas Association for Gifted and Talented (outside source)
National Association for Gifted Children (outside source)