Join us at ESC Region 11 on Friday, April 4, 2025, from 9 a.m. - noon. A light breakfast, as well as an informational session, will be provided by representatives from National Math Stars. This organization identifies mathematically extraordinary students in 2nd and 3rd grade and works with them for ten years to help overcome barriers to reaching the frontiers of math and science through mentorship, family advising, community gatherings, and funding. We will then share TEA updates from our GT Leadership meetings in Austin. Representatives from Project GT will end our morning with an informational session regarding their web-based software designed to help districts manage the entire Gifted and Talented process, from initial identification and placement to tracking opportunities beyond the curriculum. 

Join us for the AI Collective of Educators (ACE), a groundbreaking event designed to empower educators to harness the potential of artificial intelligence in education! This collaborative event offers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow educators, share innovative strategies, and learn how to integrate AI tools to enhance teaching and learning experiences. Seize this opportunity to transform your educational approach and be a part of shaping the impact of AI in the future of education. Connect with us at the ESC Region 11 service center from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on May 13, 2025.

Calling all campus leaders, coordinators, and district administrators! Registration is now open for the 2025 TAGT Leadership Conference, March 30–April 1, 2025, in Round Rock, TX. Prepare to dive deep into topics like leveraging your G/T program, building strong staff teams, and innovative services and programs. Attendees will interact with both experts and peers to receive all of the tools to succeed as a G/T leader, whether you are brand new to your leadership role or a leadership veteran.

The Gifted + Equity Conference: Serving the Underserved is geared toward the educators who work tirelessly to ensure equitable access for all gifted students. TAGT seeks informational and engaging presenters and presentations for the 2025 Program. Of greatest interest are sessions that provide practical strategies, inspirational ideas, or dive deeper into topics. The majority of attendees for this conference are classroom teachers looking for guidance and solutions in serving these learners. The deadline to submit proposals is March 7, 2025.

Baylor University is offering a variety of opportunities for students both in person and online this summer! "At Baylor, TIP our mission is to identify exceptional talent in STEM and the humanities and provide world-class learning opportunities commensurate with students’ exceptional potential. We aim to provide transformative learning opportunities to pre-collegiate students; identify and recruit diverse students with the ability, interest, and motivation to achieve at exceptional levels; and prepare pre-collegiate students for exceptional achievement by integrating academic excellence and mentorship in a caring environment."

• 1st - 3rd graders: University for Young People, online courses, and Super Saturdays!
• 4th - 7th graders: Baylor TIP Intermediate, DECATS Summer Camp, and Super Saturdays!
• 8th - 12th graders: Baylor TIP, Clubs and Societies, online courses, Talent Advising, Baylor Accelerate, and Super Saturdays!

The University of North Texas is offering an exciting range of summer programs so students can explore something new or dive deeper into their passions. Whether your student is looking to improve their swimming skills, engage with cutting-edge STEM topics, or sharpen their debating abilities, there's something for everyone. These programs not only encourage learning but also offer opportunities for personal growth and social interaction. Students will have a chance to make new friends, discover new hobbies, and build valuable skills for the future.

Educational enrichment programs can be an excellent opportunity for gifted students to develop a variety of skills and interests. Linked below, you will find a list of summer camps, afterschool, and year-long programs offered throughout the country that focus on a wide range of subject areas for K-12 students.

Birdville ISD has found an innovative way to leverage their current staffing to provide targeted gifted and talented services for gifted middle school students in grades 6-8. Responding to an initiative from a GT Advisory Board to improve gifted and talented services at the middle school level, the district’s GT Coordinator, Stacye Onstott, Secondary Social Studies Coordinator, Christine Thompson, and Secondary Science Coordinator, Lisa Cheyne, have partnered to establish “Honors +” science and social studies classes at ALL middle schools in Birdville ISD. In response to the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted and Talented Students mandate that service options are developed and consistently implemented throughout the district, Honors+ courses are available to identified GT students across the district, regardless of their middle school assignment. Honors+ courses were developed as daily self-contained science and social studies GT classes for middle school students. The curriculum is accelerated and compacted to allow for the addition of a Texas Performance Standards Project. Furthermore, Honors+ courses include special “lived experiences” designed to support learning beyond the brick and mortar of a school campus. “Lived experiences” have included field trips to the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, the Fort Worth Nature Preserve, the Frontiers of Flight Museum, and the Museum of the American Railroad. In addition to advanced curriculum, the Honors+ courses also involve “Habitudes” which are habits and attitudes that allow gifted individuals the ability to invent, create, collaborate, and solve problems – as well as reflect on the how they can apply their intellect and talents to make positive impacts.