Endorsement for the Talented and Gifted
 

The Gifted In-Field Endorsement enables educators to provide "direct instruction" only in the grade levels and fields of the base certificate(s). Individuals with this endorsement may serve as a resource teacher for "indirect services" for gifted education in any content area or grade level P-12. Successful completion of the Endorsement for the Talented and Gifted courses leads to the Gifted In-Field Endorsement from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC).

Courses are offered on a continuous basis allowing for part-time enrollment. No campus visits are required to complete the program.Students in the online program benefit from a highly interactive setting that promotes leadership, collegiality, and communication skills. Professional educators find that the online endorsement emphasizes application of acquired knowledge and skills in their classrooms. Teachers in the program come from a range of classroom settings and subject areas. Working educators choose the online endorsement because of its accreditation, quality, and fit with their busy lifestyles.

Students enrolled in the program will use the online courses to conduct all work, including team functions, exams, discussion posts, and case studies. Students also have access to academic resources, such as an online library. Courses are asynchronous. No face-to-face or group online meetings are required. Students may participate in IP videoconferencing/ audio-conferencing for instruction or field experience supervision. The courses combine text materials, case studies, online team projects and assignments, as well as discussions and written project work. Grades may be based primarily on reports, exams, assigned case studies, and participation in course and team activities.

Valdosta State University,the degree granting institution, is accredited by National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and the Georgia Profession Standards Commission (PSC).

The Need for the Gifted Endorsement
Only 3% of colleges and universities across the country offer courses in gifted education and the need for courses are high (VanTassel-Baska & Stambaugh, 2006). According to the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), 61% of classroom teachers in the U.S. have no training in gifted and talented yet gifted and talented students spend over 80% of their time in their regular classroom. Further, with so few opportunities for graduate courses in gifted education, we cannot expect teachers to effectively address the needs of gifted learners (Ford, Grantham, & Whiting, 2008). According to the report National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent (October, 1993), “teachers must receive better training in how to teach high-level curricula. They need support for providing instruction that challenges all students sufficiently. This will benefit not only students with outstanding talent but children at every academic level.”

In Georgia for the academic year of 2003-2004, 8.2% of the student population (grades K-12) was identified as gifted. In real numbers, 122,184 Georgia students were identified as gifted and enrolled in gifted programs.  The demand for this endorsement should be consistently high due to the shortage of gifted course offerings and the numbers of gifted students.

Given the unique social and emotional needs of gifted children, an educational program designed for the gifted must provide opportunities for learners to grow in all aspects of intelligence and provide experiences to develop socially and emotionally as well as cognitively. All gifted learners deserve a quality education with great activities, opportunities, and experiences that enrich and expand the whole of development. The vision is for gifted education incorporates an understanding of successful intelligence, social/emotional as well as cognitive development, and the creation of autonomous learners; it is the mission of all parents, teachers, and advocates of the gifted to make it happen. In E. Paul Torrance’s (1999) “Manifesto to Children,” he wrote the following: “Learn the skills of interdependence and gladly share your infinite creativity.” This is the hope for all gifted and talented children. Gifted children need to enter the workplace with the necessary tools to make a better world; our mission is to provide those tools.

Admission deadlines are defined as the last day in which completed application materials will be accepted for admission review for that term. Applications which are incomplete (this includes an application submitted on the deadline without all required materials) at VSU close of business on the deadline, will not be reviewed for that term. 

Applications for the Talented and Gifted Endorsement program are accepted only one semester in advance.  Admission deadlines for each term are available on the VSU GOML Calendar.

Teachers will be admitted to this program with the same criteria as used for on-campus endorsement programs.

1. Submit a Georgia ONmyLINE application for graduate admission to the VSU Graduate School for admission as a Gifted Endorsement student. 
2. Submit a $50 application fee.  This fee is non-refundable and must be paid online using a credit or a debit card;
3. Hold an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university,
4. Possess current clear/renewable teaching certificate.

Submit all admission materials to:

The Graduate School

Valdosta State University

1500 N. Patterson Street

Valdosta, GA 31698

For additional admission information, please contact the VSU Graduate School (229) 333-5694 or goml@valdosta.edu,

Program Retention, Dismissal and Readmission Policies

1. The maximum time allowed for completion of the endorsement is seven calendar years.  No work completed more than seven years prior to endorsement completion will be considered.
2. Students must successfully complete the endorsement courses with an average grade of “B” or better to be recommendated for the endorsement.

Dr. Aaron W. Powell

There are no on-campus attendance requirements for this program.

• Teachers enrolling in this program must be in a classroom setting with students a minimum of 20 hours per week per semester. This requirement can be fulfilled by being a classroom teacher or classroom volunteer in a consistent setting.
• Students must have access to Webcam software and hardware to enable remote classroom observation and conferencing.
• Students are required to purchase LiveText portfolio assessment software. Additional course specific software may be required.
• Preparation and presentation of a final electronic portfolio is a program exit requirement.
• Students will be required to undergo a criminal background check (may be completed by VSU or through the employing school district).
• Students will be required to hold professional liability insurance.

The tuition and fees for courses is $350 per credit hour, or $1,050 per course, for both in-state and out-of-state residents. This cost excludes the purchase of textbooks or supplemental materials.

Costs are subject to change. The course management system can be accessed via the Internet without purchasing proprietary software.