Colorado State Definition

In the Exceptional Children’s Education Act (ECEA), the state of Colorado defines “gifted” as the following:

12.01 (16) “Gifted Children” means those persons between the ages of four and twenty-one whose abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Gifted children are hereafter referred to as gifted students. Children under five who are gifted may also be provided with early childhood special educational services. Gifted students include gifted students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic and ethnic, cultural populations. Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of these areas of giftedness:

• 12.01 (16)(a) General or Specific Intellectual Ability
• 12.01 (16)(b) Specific Academic Aptitude
• 12.01 (16)(c) Creative or Productive Thinking
• 12.01 (16)(d) Leadership Abilities
• 12.01 (16)(e) Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Musical or Psychomotor Abilities                                                                          Rules for Gifted Education CCR 301-8  12.01(16)