Board approves new gifted education policy; district to create gifted IEPs and advisory committee

Las Cruces Public Schools’ Board adopted a new gifted-education policy, IHBB, at third reading on Jan. 21, voting 5-0 to finalize the district’s approach to identifying and serving gifted and highly capable students.

The board approved the policy after discussion on wording and scope. Members agreed to expand the policy’s purpose language to explicitly include both “gifted and highly capable students” and to add the phrase “programs and services” to clarify that supports go beyond classroom instruction. Member Ed Frank moved the motion and Vice President Pamela Court seconded it.

The policy requires the district to prepare a gifted program plan and implement a gifted IEP (Individualized Education Plan) where appropriate; staff said the state’s gifted guidance requires multiple elements of a gifted IEP, including qualification data, goals, accommodations and transition information. The board also directed staff to establish a gifted advisory committee composed of parents, community members, students and school staff; state law allows either a districtwide advisory committee or one per high school.

Why it matters: The policy formalizes identification and supports for advanced students and directs the district to address known statewide disparities in identification of gifted students by race, English-language-learner status and socioeconomic status.

What was discussed: Board members asked staff to ensure regulations and the district plan address both instructional programming and social-emotional supports. Staff said the identification rubric and advisory committee structure are under development and will be returned to the board for review.

Vote and next steps: The motion carried 5-0 (Frank: yes; Nolan: yes; Wofford: yes; Court: yes; Tenorio: yes). Staff will draft the gifted program plan, define the gifted IEP process and convene the advisory committee to guide identification and services.