The state of Texas defines a gifted/talented student as a child/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 state also establishes guidelines for the support of these individuals in a school setting. Elementary gifted and talented services take a multidisciplinary approach to differentiation in cluster classrooms while secondary students are served in core content areas (science, social studies, math, and language arts) through differentiation. Differentiation at Live Oak Academy is addressed through programming, process, or product development. 

G/T Spotlight Award Winner 2023-2024

Dr. Deb Rang

Academically, Dr. Rang's students have the opportunity to choose their content, product, and process paths in class throughout each learning opportunity. Students are also given the option of proposing another way to complete assignments. For example, during learning about the Sun, students work from a choice board to decide the path they would like to follow to share their learning.  Emotionally gifted students may struggle with anxiety and/or the need for perfection. For these situations, Dr. Rang's students are frequently monitored, especially at the beginning of an assignment. Students are also monitored and supported during any assignment and an open-door policy is in place to support them as they move forward with their learning.

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