PURPOSE: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has the responsibility under section 162.720, RSMo, to approve applications for special programs for gifted students. This rule establishes the standards for program approval and administrative procedures for the programs.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The secretary of state has determined that publication of the entire text of the material that is incorporated by reference as a portion of this rule would be unduly cumbersome or expensive. This material as incorporated by reference in this rule shall be maintained by the agency at its headquarters and shall be made available to the public for inspection and copying at no more than the actual cost of reproduction. This note applies only to the reference material. The entire text of the rule is printed here.

1. (1) For the purposes of special programs for gifted students, the programs shall be designed for academic areas, the fine arts, or both.
2. (2) Annually, the department solicits applications from eligible Local Educational Agencies which shall be due as of a date and in a form established by the department. Anyone interested in receiving a copy of the Gifted Education Program Guidelines (April 2024), which is incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule as published by the department, may contact the Gifted Education Section, 205 Jefferson Street, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480, and at its website at https:// dese.mo.gov/quality-schools/gifted-education and at https:// dese.mo.gov/governmental-affairs/dese-administrativerules/ incorporated-reference-materials. This rule does not incorporate any subsequent amendments or additions.

3. (3) Approved applications must demonstrate that the applicant has—

   1. (A) Established a systematic process for identification and selection of gifted students. This process shall use multiple criteria for identification and selection such as, but not limited to, equitable and objective measures and competent professional evaluation; and
   2. (B) Listed each individual instructional staff position and for each position, the amount of time which will be spent in the gifted program, the number of gifted students to be served and the delivery system to be used.

4. (4) For approved programs, districts shall maintain on file in the district—

   1. (A) The program goals and learner outcomes that should be achieved by gifted students participating in the program;
   2. (B) The program activities that shall be beyond the level normally provided in regular school programs and that contribute particularly to meeting the identified unmet needs of gifted students; and
   3. (C) The results of an annual evaluation used to determine the effectiveness of the program as a whole and the program’s impact upon participating students.

5. (5) Instructional personnel in the program for gifted students shall possess the appropriate certification for the gifted program service they are providing.

   1. (A) In districts with an average daily attendance of more than three hundred fifty (350) students, any teacher providing gifted services shall be certificated in gifted education.
   2. (B) In districts with an average daily attendance of three hundred fifty (350) students or fewer, any teacher providing gifted services will not be required to be certificated to teach gifted education; however, the teacher must annually participate in at least six (6) clock hours of professional development focused on gifted services. The school district will pay for any costs required for professional development focused on gifted services.
6. (6) Instructional positions and assignments in the stateapproved program shall be reported in a manner and format approved by the department on the annual core data reports.

AUTHORITY: sections 161.092 and 162.675, RSMo 2016, and section 162.720, RSMo Supp. 2024.* This rule was previously filed as 5 CSR 70-742.120 and 5 CSR 50-200.010. Original rule filed May 20, 1974, effective May 30, 1974. Amended: Filed Dec. 24, 1975, effective Jan. 3, 1976. Amended: Filed Nov. 7, 1977, effective March 1, 1978. Rescinded and readopted: Filed March 7, 1979, effective July 14, 1979. Amended: Filed Aug. 21, 1980, effective Dec. 15, 1980. Amended: Filed Feb. 26, 1991, effective Aug. 30, 1991. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Jan. 31, 1994, effective July 10, 1994. Amended: Filed Sept. 20, 2006, effective May 30, 2007. Moved to 5 CSR 20-100.110, effective Aug. 16, 2011. Amended: Filed Feb. 29, 2016, effective Oct. 30, 2016. Amended: Filed Oct. 26, 2021, effective May 30, 2022. Amended: Filed April 15, 2024, effective Nov. 30, 2024. *Original authority: 161.092, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 2002, 2003, 2013, 2014; 162.675, RSMo 1973, amended 1974, 1977, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008; and 162.720, RSMo 1973, amended 1974, 2016, 2018, 2022.