Qualified Personnel for Gifted Education

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Exceptional Children's Educational Act (ECEA) defines "qualified personnel" as:

“Qualified Personnel” or “Qualified Person” means a licensed, content endorsed educator who also has an endorsement or higher degree in gifted education; or who is working toward an endorsement or higher degree in gifted education.  12.01(26)

In Colorado, "qualified personnel" in gifted education means a licensed educator who has a teaching certificate along with one of the three gifted education endorsements. 

AUs shall employ or contract with a person who is responsible for managing the gifted program plan and providing professional development activities.

AUs shall make a good faith effort to hire one qualified person, at least half time, to administer and monitor the implementation of the AU’s gifted program [12.02(2)(j)(ii)].

AUs have the autonomy to determine the licensing and endorsement levels of educators supporting gifted students.

House Bill 14-1102 permits AUs to apply for grant funds to offset costs incurred by employing a qualified person to administer the gifted program plan.  AUs may submit an application for the Qualified Personnel Grant to offset up to a .5 FTE.

The three types of Gifted Education Endorsements include:

1. Core Gifted Endorsement
2. Gifted Specialist
3. Gifted Director

Colorado Approved Educator Preparation Programs for Gifted Endorsements

• Core/Specialist Endorsement 


• Director of Gifted Education Endorsement

Information about endorsement application and online submission is available on the Educator Licensing Office webpage.

Please direct any licensing questions to The Educator Licensing Office:  303-866-6628.