Wausau, WI (January 16, 2023) – Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted (WATG) is pleased to share the 2020-21 State of the States in Gifted Education report. The report, published by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and Council of State Directors of Programs from the Gifted, is the only broad study of state data on gifted education in the United States and provides a detailed look at the funding, identification, range of services, and policies that support K-12 gifted and talented education.
The report includes responses from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Department of Defense, making it the most inclusive report to date. Highlights of the 2020-21 edition of the report include some of the first insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Wisconsin’s gifted education programs, as well as data on gifted education equity initiatives in Wisconsin
Vital information from the new report currently shows that Wisconsin:
● Wisconsin does mandate gifted services. However, even though Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are required to provide appropriate programming for pupils identified as gifted or talented and appropriate is defined, it is very subjective AND not monitored by the State Education Agency (SEA) unless there is a complaint. (Page 108)
● Wisconsin DOES NOT mandate funding for gifted programs and services. This means services are mandated by the state but no dedicated funding is provided by the State to support gifted education. (Page 180)
● Wisconsin does require the identification of gifted and talented students. (Page 77)
● Wisconsin DOES NOT have gifted education program standards or guidelines. (Page 147)
● Wisconsin does have a definition of gifted in law or rule. (Page 66)
● Wisconsin does have a law requiring LEAs to have a gifted program coordinator or administrator. However, in many districts, this person has multiple additional responsibilities, which diminishes the time that can be spent serving gifted and talented students. This impacts quality of services. (Page 149)
● Wisconsin does not have a policy or initiative to address the equity or excellence gap for gifted children. (Page 168) Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted hopes national and state leaders will use this critical information to create a strong and equitable system of support for gifted learners. The State of the States report will not only be a useful resource for leaders seeking to advance gifted and talented education across the country but will also be a tool for advocates to increase support for gifted learners.
A free copy of the 2020-21 State of the States in Gifted Education can be found on NAGC’s website.
