Gifted Education or Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) or Talented and Gifted (TAG) are school programs designed for students who show high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school to fully develop those capabilities.

These programs, policies, and the funding for them vary from state to state and among schools and school districts. The only federal program for gifted children is the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, which focuses on identifying and serving students who are traditionally under-represented in gifted and talented programs—such as minority students, students from low-income backgrounds or who are English language learners, and children with disabilities.

The Javits program is designed to help reduce gaps in achievement and to encourage the establishment of equal educational opportunities for all U.S. students. The program funds applied research and the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. In fiscal year 2017 the Javits program received $12 million in federal funds.

Visit https://www.nagc.org/gifted-state for more information on gifted programs available in your state, including agency and association contact information.

In New Jersey, Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs are guided by state regulations and district policies. The state mandates that all public schools identify and provide appropriate instructional adaptations for students who are gifted and talented. New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.1) requires school districts to have a board-approved gifted and talented identification process and to provide services for these students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The identification process must be multifaceted, including multiple measures to assess intellectual ability, creativity, or specific academic ability. Services for gifted students must be designed to challenge them in their area or areas of strength and may include acceleration, enrichment, and individualized instruction. The state does not provide dedicated funding for GATE programs; funding is typically part of the general education budget. Districts are responsible for the quality and availability of these programs, which can lead to variability in GATE services across the state. The federal Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act complements state efforts by providing resources aimed at serving under-represented groups in gifted education, although it does not directly fund local GATE programs.