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Home > Gifted and Talented > State Law and Regulations

  1. State Law,  Regulations, Reporting

Gifted and Talented Education:

  • Chapter 104 Educational Programs for Gifted and Talented Children

    Chapter 104 is the rule under which gifted programs in Maine are developed and evaluated. A complete version of Chapter 104 may be found at  www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/05/071/071c104.doc

  • Title 20-A Education Maine Revised Statutes Chapter 311 Gifted and Talented Students 8101-8105

    Chapter 311 gives legislative recognition of gifted and talented students and amends and updates funding provisions which are no longer applicable. The complete text for Title 20-A Chapter 311 may be found at:
    http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach311sec0.html

    Recent legislative changes to Ch. 311:  Public Law 2011 Chapter 678 Part H

  • Title 20-A Education Chapter 312 Maine School of Science and Mathematics 8201-8207

    Chapter 312 establishes the Maine School of Science and Mathematics. This section also includes funding, the responsibilities of the board of trustees and the programs and operations of the school. The complete text for Title 20-A Chapter 312 may be found at:
    http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach312sec0.html

  • Endorsement 690: Gifted and Talented Teacher

    The requirements for the GT endorsement are listed and fully described under Chapter 115: Part II: Requirements for Specific Certificates and Endorsements.

    Chapter 115 may be found at http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/05/chaps05.htm click Ch.115 Part II, page 35-36.          

  • State of the State Report The NAGC and the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted annually develop a national report on gifted education. Read what other states are doing and compare them with our State of Maine.  www.nagc.org

 

Supporting Laws That Impact Gifted Education:

  • Certification, Authorization, and Approval of Education Personnel

Chapter 115 provides the standards and procedures for general teacher certification.

Chapter 115: Part I: Standards and Procedures for Certification, Authorization, and Approval http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/05/chaps05.htm....... click Ch.115 Part I

  1. Annual Reports

All forms for the current application process are included in this section.
      Commissioner's update
      Application for G/T Education programs
      Guidelines for completing the Application, Plans and Budget
      G/T Visual and Performing Arts Plan
      G/T Academic Plan
      Budgeted G/T Estimated Allowable Costs
      All forms are found at http://www.maine.gov/education/gt/forms/index.html

  1. Frequently Asked Questions FAQ:

    Many G/T coordinators and teachers have very similar questions when completing their annual reports. Several of these typical questions and responses are listed below:

    • Our district does not have a standardized test for social studies. Are  we still expected  to show student growth?

    2. Each district is required to identify G/T students in the core academic subjects. Social studies is a core subject. While the district may not have a standardized test, there are other options that may be used to demonstrate growth. Some of these are grades, learning characteristics, rubrics, and common social studies curriculum assessments across a grade level.

    • If my district does not request money, do we still need to complete the Application or Plan?

    Yes. Each district is required to submit an Application or Plan whether it is requesting money or not.

    • Does Chapter 104 require a school district to employ a G/T teacher?

    No, unfortunately, Chapter 104 does not require a district to employ a G/T teacher. However, in order to meet the needs of the identified students in the district it is highly recommended that the district employ a properly endorsed G/T teacher.

    • How many credits do I need in order to hold the G/T 690 endorsement?

    The full 690 endorsement requires 12 university credit hours. Six of these credit hours must be from a university. The remaining 6 credit hours may be workshop hours in gifted education.

    • I’m working on my 690 endorsement. Is there a deadline for completing the necessary courses?

    Yes. In order to receive reimbursement, the teacher of the gifted and talented must be endorsed by November 30th of the school year.

    • Does the Survey of Exceptionalities course count towards my G/T endorsement?

    No. This course is a requirement that all teachers must take for their regular certification.

    • Our school district has limited funding. We would like to give the OLSAT or perhaps the Cog-AT to all third and fifth grade students as part of our screening for the Gifted program. Is this an allowable cost?

    No. If the assessment tool is given to all students then it is a general education expense and is not a gifted and talented allowable cost. However, if after the students are identified and services are provided and further assessment is needed, those expenses may be an allowable cost.

    • My school unit is part of a Union/AOS. We worked together and developed a common Application/Plan. Do we submit a common budget, too?

    No. Each town in the Union/AOS must develop its own budget. Then all budgets are submitted together as separate documents with the Application/Plan.

    • Our school is working towards an integrated approach to learning at the elementary level. Since we will not be submitting grades for separate subjects, will we need to provide data for our identified students in the core subjects as defined by Chapter 104?

    Yes, the school unit will need to tease out data in science, social studies, ELA and math for students identified in those areas.

    • I am a new G/T teacher and have been put in charge of reviewing the school unit’s identification system. I feel overwhelmed and ill prepared for the task. Does the MDOE have a list of approved identification tools?

    No, the MDOE does not have such a list. However, if you would contact the G/T consultants for the department they will gladly respond to any questions that you may have regarding your identification system and/or any specific assessment tools. For additional information you may go to other states’ department of education websites for assessment ideas.

    My school unit does not have a business manager. I am trying to figure out how G/T is reimbursed by the state. Can you help?

    Each G/T program is approved to include a total budget amount. The total approved budget is compared to the actual expenditure for the fiscal year and the lesser of the two amounts becomes the allocation under Other Subsidizable Cost in the Essential Programs & Services Funding Act. This amount is two years old. An inflationary factor is added to bring the amount up to the current year. So, for the current year, FY 2013, the FY 2011 Gifted and Talented expenditures are what is included in the total allocation available for subsidy consideration.
    Additionally, the percentage of state subsidy a school unit receives changes annually due to changes in the variables of state valuation, pupil count and available dollars which are present in the distribution formula.

    • The secretary assigned to the G/T coordinator maintains the identified student records, sends the identification letters home, assists the coordinator in compiling statistics etc. Is a portion of her salary an allowable G/T cost.

    No. G/T funds are limited. While I am sure this individual is very helpful, her salary or a portion of her salary is not an allowable cost.

    • Our school unit provides music and art in grades k-5 and music in grades 6-8.

      Are we expected to have a G/T art program in grades 6-8?


      No. G/T identification and services are required in those areas of the fine arts that are provided to the general student population. Since art is not offered to the general student body in grades 6-8, then a G/T art program is not required in grades 6-8.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      National Organization’s FAQ:
      Many questions continually surface concerning gifted education. Listed below are a sampling of websites with their frequently asked questions and answers. Perhaps this might assist your school district in developing its own list of questions for teachers, administrators and parents

    The “all things gifted “ page from Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page  may be found at
    http://www.hogiesgifted.org

    The SENG Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted website has two sites with question and answers. Got to http://www.sengifted.org  Across the top bar, click “Articles and Resources” for one set of Q’s & A’s and  then click Ask Seng. Again, across the top bar, click “About Us” then click FAQ.

    The National Association for Gifted Children also has a frequently asked questions see http://www.nagc.org/index2.aspx?id=548