Legislative declaration

(1) The general assembly, recognizing the obligation of the state of Colorado to provide educational opportunities to all children that will enable them to lead fulfilling and productive lives, declares that the purpose of this part 2 is to provide means for identifying and educating those children who are gifted. (2) It is the intent of the general assembly that: (a) Evidence-based practices support instruction and the social and emotional development of gifted children; and (b) Each gifted child is educated in a rigorous learning environment and culture that develops the child's areas of exceptionality and coordinates programs and services among available support systems. (3) The general assembly further finds and declares that traditional assessment methods may not adequately identify some gifted children, including children from all socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural populations and gifted children who also have disabilities. It is therefore the general assembly's intent that the state board, the department, and every administrative unit include all student groups in each administrative unit's procedures for identifying gifted children and for developing educational programs that include gifted children. (4) The general assembly declares that, for purposes of section 17 of article IX of the state constitution, gifted education programs are accountable programs to meet state academic standards and may therefore receive funding from the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution.