Gifted
Defining Giftedness in Pennsylvania:
Mentally gifted is defined as “outstanding intellectual and creative ability the development of which requires specially designed programs or support services, or both, not ordinarily provided in the regular education program.”
The term mentally gifted includes a person who has an IQ of 130 or higher or other factors (listed below) that indicate gifted ability. Gifted ability cannot be based on IQ scores alone. If the IQ score is lower than 130, a child may be admitted to gifted programs when other conditions "strongly" indicate gifted ability.
The other factors to be considered include:
Mentally gifted is defined as “outstanding intellectual and creative ability the development of which requires specially designed programs or support services, or both, not ordinarily provided in the regular education program.”
The term mentally gifted includes a person who has an IQ of 130 or higher or other factors (listed below) that indicate gifted ability. Gifted ability cannot be based on IQ scores alone. If the IQ score is lower than 130, a child may be admitted to gifted programs when other conditions "strongly" indicate gifted ability.
The other factors to be considered include:
- Achievement test scores that are a year or more above grade level
- Observed or measured acquisition/retention rates that reflect gifted ability (i.e. how quickly your child learns new concepts or information, and how long he or she remembers it)
- Achievement, performance, or expertise in one or more academic areas that demonstrate a high level of accomplishment
- Higher level thinking skills
- Documented evidence that intervening factors are masking gifted ability