Gifted and Talented
Supporting your gifted and talented programs.
Gifted and Talented Events, Services, and Resources
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Professional Development
Gifted and Talented Foundational 30-Hour Training
Learn research-based, practical methods to serve gifted/talented learners in your classrooms at our GT 30-hour training. This fulfills the requirement of The Texas State Plan for the Education of gifted/talented students.
View Professional Development Details: Gifted and Talented Foundational 30-Hour Training -
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Resource
Identification & Assessment Checklists for GT Coordinators
Do you know all the steps for the GT Identification and Assessment Process? Download a copy of our handy process checklists for Steps 1 through 5.
View Resource Details: Identification & Assessment Checklists for GT Coordinators -
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Resource
Standards-Based Task Summary Page
Now that you've selected a standards-based task, start the planning process using this Task Summary Page. Be as thorough as you can when you plan. The more you plan at the beginning, the more flexible you will be while engaging in learning with your students.
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Service
Gifted and Talented Program Evaluations
Join us to learn research-based and practical methods to serve gifted/talented learners.
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Professional Development
Gifted and Talented 6-Hour Updates
Join us to learn research-based and practical methods to serve gifted/talented learners.
View Professional Development Details: Gifted and Talented 6-Hour Updates -
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In-Person
GT Fall 2026 Leadership Meeting
Join us for the Gifted and Talented Community Fall Leadership Meeting. This meeting offers updates from ESC Region 13, the state coordinator, various guest speakers, and opportunities to network with area leaders.
View Workshop Details: GT Fall 2026 Leadership Meeting -
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In-Person
Future Ready Learning Fair
A free event where schools and families can explore innovative tools, strategies, and resources to empower future-ready learners.
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In-Person
GT Spring 2027 Leadership Meeting
Join us for the Gifted and Talented Community Spring Leadership Meeting. This meeting offers updates from ESC Region 13, the state coordinator, various guest speakers, and opportunities to network with area leaders.
View Workshop Details: GT Spring 2027 Leadership Meeting -
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Article
Strengthen Classroom Instruction with TPSP and TEKS RS
Strengthening rigor and depth for your classroom doesn’t mean having to change everything you teach. Teachers utilizing the Texas Curriculum Management Program Cooperative (TCMPC) TEKS Resource System (TEKS RS) can effectively employ the Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) as a valuable tool for enhancing instruction. In this article we explore strengthening classroom instruction with TPSP […]
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Resource
The Gifted Guide: Smart Strategies for Advanced Thinkers
Free, bite-sized, ready-to-use strategies and ongoing support to help teachers effectively meet the needs of gifted and talented students across all grade levels.
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Cooperatives
Gifted and Talented Professional Learning Cooperative
Join the cooperative and strengthen your district’s commitment to meeting the unique needs of gifted students while maximizing your budget.
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Article
Empowering Your School Board as GT Advocates
Gifted and talented (GT) program coordinators are tasked annually with keeping your school board and district leadership informed and engaged in GT. Among those responsibilities are two key requirements in the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students centered on your Board of Trustees: These requirements ensure that GT services are well understood […]
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Printable
TEKS Resource System & Texas Performance Standards Project K-8 Alignment Guide
Simplify planning for advanced, performance-based learning with this alignment guide connecting TEKS Resource System units and Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) tasks.
View Printable Details: TEKS Resource System & Texas Performance Standards Project K-8 Alignment Guide -
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Online
GT Leadership Forum with the Central Texas Advanced Academics Consortium (CTAAC)
Connect with other Gifted & Talented leaders to discuss relevant issues for GT programming.
View Series Details: GT Leadership Forum with the Central Texas Advanced Academics Consortium (CTAAC) -
Program Support
Gifted and Talented School Board Support
Get support to craft a clear, data-informed, and compliant presentation for your school board that highlights your GT program’s progress, student impact, and alignment with the Texas State Plan.
View Program Support Details: Gifted and Talented School Board Support -
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Article
Navigating Annual Gifted and Talented Program Evaluations
Conducting a Gifted and Talented (GT) program evaluation is essential for ensuring that your services meet the needs of the gifted students in your district. This article guides you through navigating annual GT Program evaluations, setting goals, and working through the step-by-step evaluation process to enhance program quality and student outcomes. Whether you’re refining an […]
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Printable
GT Program Evaluation Tool
This free, customizable rubric is designed for GT coordinators to support program evaluations.
View Printable Details: GT Program Evaluation Tool -
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Article
4 Reasons to Invest in Summer Learning
Learning breaks can be difficult for children. The longer the break, the more learning loss occurs. Research on “summer slide” or “summer lag” shows that children can lose up to 34% of their learning over the summer break. This is a great reason to invest in summer learning. One solution is to engage your child […]
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Article
What to Do When Your Child is Identified as Gifted and Talented: A Parent’s Guide
You receive a letter from the school asking permission to test your child for the gifted and talented (GT) program. Or maybe you requested to have your child tested because you know they’re doing something that seems slightly more advanced than their peers. The next thing you know, the school calls you and tells you […]
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Article
GT Identification and Assessment Process Checklist
Every year, districts across the state are required to identify students who will participate in Gifted and Talented (GT) programs. This GT identification process has specific requirements outlined in the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students. This blog offers checklists and downloadable tools to guide coordinators in ensuring they follow the required […]
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Article
Free Standards-based Tasks to Explore in TPSP
The Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) is a Texas Education Agency (TEA) created website providing teachers across Texas with free standards-based tasks to use with their students. Let’s explore how you can embed these resources into your existing lesson plans to maximize the benefit to your students. Who and What Getting Started The TPSP resource […]
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Article
4 Tips for GT Training Requirements
Everyone wants to do what’s best for students. It can feel overwhelming to meet the training requirements for the gifted and talented program. However, these are in place to support you as you meet the needs of the highest learners in your classroom. Here are my 4 tips for GT training requirements and how to […]
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Article
Do You Know Your Gifted and Talented Program Goals?
Gifted and Talented (GT) Programs vary across campuses, districts, and the state. Do you know your gifted and talented program goals? Are you meeting these goals? How do you measure the success of your GT Program? How do you communicate goals and successes to your teaching, family, and student communities? Let’s discuss these questions and answers. I […]
Read Article: Do You Know Your Gifted and Talented Program Goals?
Providing services to help our Gifted and Talented community succeed
Our Specialists are dedicated to providing Gifted and Talented services in our area that align with the Texas State Plan for Gifted and Talented Students and state program requirements.
We offer programming updates and information for coordinators, directors, and campus specialists once per semester at the Gifted and Talented Leadership meeting. Our leadership workshops and forums are opportunities for you to connect with other leaders in our area while you get the support you need to align your programs to the state goal for services. You can register for our leadership offerings on Ecampus.
We offer a variety of online and in-person offerings that meet the state requirements for staff training. In addition to our sessions that are offered to the general public, districts can also request custom training that meets the direct needs of their staff members.
Need to get in touch?
Contact a member of our team for more information.
Amber Reinecke, 512-919-5169