NMHU Offers Gifted Endorsement Courses

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)

Gifted Programs at NMHU Student Centre

NMHU Student Centre

According to the report, National Excellence: A Case for Developing America’s Talent  (October, 1993), “Teachers must receive better training in how to teach highlevel 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.”  For these reasons State of New Mexico educators who instruct gifted individuals must have an endorsement in Gifted Education.

Gifted Endorsement Requirements

After June 30, 2012:

Teachers currently licensed in New Mexico at any level and seeking an endorsement in Gifted Education will complete the following requirements:

  • Pass the state-approved licensure NES® (National Evaluation Series™) Test or an accepted comparable licensure test(s) from another state.
  • Successfully complete 12 credits hours in the pedagogy and methodology of teaching gifted students through a regionally accredited college or university.

State Rule: [6.64.18.8 NMAC – N, 01-29-10]

12 credit hours at NMHU (Based on NCATE/CAEP & NAGC/CEC Standards)

  • Foundations of Gifted Education (Standard 1 and 2)
  • Instructional Strategies for Gifted Education (Standard 4)
  • Instructional Planning and Curriculum of Gifted Education (Standard 7)
  • Twice Exceptional & Individual Learning Differences of the Gifted (Standard 3)

After June 30, 2012:

Beginning teachers who are seeking a Gifted Education endorsement to add to an initial Level I teaching license must have 24 semester hours in the pedagogy and methodology of teaching gifted students from a regionally accredited college or university. In addition to the endorsement, beginning teachers will also need to satisfy all general licensure requirements from the NMPED.

State Rule: [6.64.18.8 NMAC – N, 01-29-10]

24 credit hours at NMHU (Based on NCATE/CAEP & NAGC/CEC Standards)

  • Foundations of Gifted Education (Standard #1Foundations and #2 Development and Characteristics of Learners
  • Twice Exceptional & Individual Learning Differences of the Gifted (Standard #3 Individual Learning Differences)
  • Instructional Strategies for Gifted Education (Standard #4 Instructional Strategies)
  • Learning Environments and Social Interactions for Gifted Education (Standard #5 Learning Environments and Social Interaction)
  • Instructional Planning and Curriculum of Gifted Education (Standards #7 & Instructional Planning)
  • Working with Families of Students who are Gifted (Standard #10 Collaboration)
  • Professional Ethical Practices for Gifted Education (Standards #6 & #9 Professional and Ethical Practice & Language)
  • Assessment Issues for Gifted Education (Standard #8 Assessment)

These are some of the needs currently in the State of New Mexico that New Mexico Highlands is trying to resolve by offering these courses.

  • Many public school districts have reported their need for gifted educators.
  • New Mexico Highland’s University primary area is northern NM (Rio Rancho, Farmington, Santa Fe, and Espanola) and statewide ITV/online.
  • The NMHU Gifted Education Program would be available via ITV, live online, and face-to-face which makes it available for may rural areas of New Mexico.
  • NM’s gifted percentage is almost 5% estimating that there are 16,800 gifted students.   Considering half are receiving minimal services and half are receiving moderate service in gifted education, 28 students fit in each caseload, and assuming all caseloads are as close to one as possible, then 600 full-time equivalent teachers would be needed in the State of New Mexico. Eastern New Mexico University, Central New Mexico Community College, San Juan Community College all provide Gifted Education Coursework.  Each program graduates between six to fifteen students per year. While these numbers might be adequate for the area that each university services, it is evident that vast areas in the northern section of the state are not adequately offering the gifted licensure/endorsement.
  • NMHU is the only university in the State of New Mexico to offer a Master’s Degree in Special Education with an endorsement/ licensure in gifted education and the courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. 

For further information about obtaining your gifted endorsement please contact Dr. PJ Sedillo.

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About PJ Sedillo

Currently an Assistant Professor at New Mexico Highlands University offering the gifted course work for endorsement. Gifted coursework offered at the graduate and undergraduate level, also offering a Masters in Special Education with a Gifted Emphasis.

2 Comments

  1. Thanks for providing the information about NMHU’s program. We have to continue to advocate for gifted students and programs that provide educators to teach them effectively! Way to step up to the plate NMHU and Dr. Sedillo!

  2. Thanks to NMHU and you for offering the endorsements that teachers need. I took my endorsement classes at three universities because they were not available in a timely manner back then. It is a major concern that so many general education teachers have no training in gifted education but students spend about 80% of their time with general education teachers. That is why NMAG created “The Guide to Understanding and Challenging New Mexico’s Gifted Students: An Introduction for Teachers” which is available free on their web site under resources.

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