H.F. No. 4312 Summary

• School districts must identify gifted and talented students and provide challenging educational programs using universal screening with multiple objective criteria inclusive of underrepresented groups including low-income, minority, twice-exceptional, and English learners

• School districts must adopt procedures for academic acceleration and early kindergarten/first grade admission of gifted and talented students, with procedures sensitive to underrepresented groups

• School districts must provide ongoing professional development on gifted student needs addressing critical thinking, creative thinking, problem solving, inquiry learning, and collaborative learning for all staff

• Gifted and talented revenue per pupil unit increases from $13 to $39 per adjusted pupil unit, with districts required to spend funds on identification, programming, and teacher development

• School districts must report to the commissioner on numbers of students assessed and identified for gifted programs, academically accelerated students, and early admissions, with detailed data on program effectiveness and spending across identification, programming, professional development, and accountability