Does Missouri public schools require gifted and talented identification?

Missouri public schools are not currently required by state law to identify or serve gifted and talented students, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

As of May 2026, gifted education is an optional program rather than a required service for public schools, meaning that school districts can decide whether to apply gifted and talented programming, such as the SAGE program and accelerated coursework.

This would have changed under House Bill 1757. The proposed legislation have required all Missouri public school students to be tested for gifted and talented programming. The bill did not pass.

While DESE provides some guidelines for gifted education, there is not a statewide requirement to screen all students. Access to gifted programs varies depending on the school district and its resources. Some districts have formal identification processes, while others may offer limited or no services.