The purpose of the Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Program is to provide an appropriately challenging educational program for students who perform, or show potential for performing, at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment. Academically or intellectually gifted students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual areas, specific academic fields, or in both intellectual areas and specific academic fields. Academically or intellectually gifted students require differentiated educational services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular educational program. Outstanding abilities are present in students from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.

The Academically or Intellectually Gifted Program staff has spent many years studying research on gifted practices, reviewing programs in gifted education, discussing, revising, and formulating the AIG Program. The following states our beliefs about gifted education programming:

• Gifted and highly capable students learn at a faster rate and are able to think with more complexity than their peers.
• Gifted and highly capable students are found across a diverse student population.
• Gifted and highly capable students need a more rigorous and differentiated curriculum.
• Ongoing research-based professional development for all stakeholders is necessary to sustain an effective gifted program.
• Collaborative partnerships with parents and community are essential to build and maintain an effective gifted program.