Thank you for your interest in gifted services. In the state of Kansas, Gifted Education is a sub-category of Special Education. Schools are required to analyze data from multiple sources before identifying a child as gifted. In Shawnee Mission, identifying a student’s needs begins in our classrooms. 

While most students can have their academic needs met through enrichment and extensions from their general education teacher, some students show a need for a more individualized plan. Those students are formally evaluated through the Special Education department.  

Parents must give written consent before a gifted evaluation can begin. All evaluations are completed within 60 school days and include data/input from the classroom teacher, parents, gifted case manager and the school psychologist. 

If a student is determined to be eligible for gifted services, the team will decide if an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is warranted. If a student is not eligible for gifted services, the information gathered will help the team further develop plans to meet the needs of the student within the general education setting. 

For more information about gifted services in Shawnee Mission, contact your child’s building principal and classroom teacher.

The Kansas State Department of Education provides the following information related to services for gifted students in Kansas: "Gifted" as defined in K.A.R. 91-40-1(bb) means performing or demonstrating the potential for performing at significantly higher levels of accomplishment in one or more academic fields due to intellectual ability, when compared to others of similar age, experience, and environment.