The newly formed Liberty County Association for Gifted Children met Tuesday to inform parents about the new program.
"It's a community organization interested in learning about and supporting  gifted children's education," said Laura Stafford, a parent leader of the association.
Rose Calloway led the meeting with a program she calls Gifted 101, during which she spoke about criteria for qualification, updated parents on current topics related to gifted education and talked about plans for the program.
Calloway explained that local students are accepted into the program based upon four criteria: mental ability, achievement, creativity and motivation.
According to the Georgia Department of Education, "a gifted student is a student who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual and/or creative ability(ies), exhibits an exceptionally high degree of motivation, and/or excels in specific academic fields, and who needs special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his or her abilities."
Students' eligibility is evaluated by teachers, administrators as well as a variety of educational tools including standardized tests.
Calloway also spoke about new monitoring protocols and needs assessments that are being put into place to better the gifted students program.
Future meetings will include discussion pertaining to issues such as 'everything you wanted to ask about your child but were afraid to ask', 'Middle School and the gifted', and 'social and emotional development of the gifted.
For more information concerning the program visit www.doe.k12.ga.us or email libertyassociationforgifted@yahoo.com