Teachers Count in the Classroom and in Policy: Legislation, Rules, and Regulations as Pathways in Gifted Education

Policy is a powerful tool that guides many gifted education services and practices in states across the U.S. In addition to student services, policies can govern teacher preparation standards and qualifications for educators responsible for instructional delivery to academically talented learners. Essential to the process, institutions of higher education partner with states to provide standards-based endorsements for gifted education teachers. Arkansas, Iowa, and Kentucky serve as exemplars for enacting policies aimed at increasing the number of educators prepared to teach in the field of gifted education. Key features of their teacher education policies are summarized. In addition to formal teacher education policies, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) offers a certificate in Exceptional Needs: Gifted. The NBPTS pathway creates recognition for a national level of accomplished teaching practice in gifted education also found in state policy.