DEFINITION AND FUNDING
The Michigan State Board of Education adopted this definition for gifted and talented students (currently referred to as "advanced and accelerated" students):
"Children and youth with outstanding talent perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment. These children and youth exhibit high performance capability in intellectual, creative and/or artistic areas, possess an unusual leadership capacity, or excel in specific academic fields. They require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the schools. Outstanding talents are present in children and youth from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor."
To offer opportunities for challenging and purposeful learning to students who require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the schools necessitates personnel, professional development, individualized instruction, adapted provisions, and resources.
Due to budget difficulties in Michigan, the funding for Talent Development has been eliminated with the exception of a $5,000 annual allocation for summer programming. State funding to local districts has been eliminated.
