Center for Gifted Education

Thank you for visiting the Center for Gifted Education!

We are excited about the wonderful program plans for the Fall, Spring, and Summer of 2025-2026.

We would like to thank everyone who joined us for the 2025 Jeanette Plauché Parker Lecture Series on March 20, 2025. We are especially thankful to Dean Tracy L. Cross for his presentation. We also would like to thank all who attended the 2025 LAgniappe Educator Conference, June 10-11, 2025, and the Summer 2025 LAgniappe Academic Enrichment Programs for students rising into the first through tenth grades, June 23-27, 2025.

Center for Gifted Education Mission Statement:

The Center for Gifted Education has the mission to support the needs of gifted and talented students and those with gifted potential. The Center is an instructional, research, and service center. It offers professional learning opportunities for teachers and schools, summer enrichment programs for children, and consultation services for parents. We facilitate and support gifted education advocacy efforts, providing research-based information about the needs of gifted & talented students to all stakeholders. We aim to build relationships with those who impact gifted students as well as the public.

Please enjoy these links:

Check out our Original Curation from The Center:
Cyberbullying in School-Age Boys and Girls

Check out this week's Online Resource
A Beginner's Glossary of Coding and Programming Terms

Admission to the Center for Gifted Education

We do not require GT Identification to participate in the Summer Programs presented by the Center for Gifted Education. A Mandatory Qualification is required to participate in the Summer Programs presented by the Center for Gifted Education.

All new participants must submit a one-time, non-refundable, $25.00 Application for Admission. The Screening Window for Admission to the Summer Programs presented by the Center for Gifted Education is currently CLOSED.

The application fee covers the review of the parent/guardian and teacher checklists, GT Paperwork, and any standardized test scores by Dr. Bruce-Davis. She will determine student qualifications for participation in the Summer Programs presented by the Center for Gifted Education.

Upon submission of the application fee, the parent/guardian and teacher (named in the application) will receive identical parent/teacher checklists to complete. The submitted checklists will be reviewed by Dr. Bruce-Davis, the Director of Children's Programs.

Older students (5th grade and above) who are NOT in a Parish GT Program will require a score review to determine qualification for admission.

If students are in the Parish GT Program, we ask that parents/guardians email either the first page of the most recent IEP, or the first page of the welcome letter to gifted@louisiana.edu.

Identified GT Program students do not need to submit scores for review.

Returning Students:

Students previously accepted into the Center for Gifted Education programs have the status of Returning Students.

Academic Enrichment Program History and Announcements:

The Center for Gifted Education has a long and rich history of educating parents, students, and educators in and around the Lafayette area, the state, and the nation. The center was established in 1982 and is one of only 20 such comprehensive instructional, research, and service centers in the country. It is the only one of its scope in Louisiana. UL Lafayette's Center for Gifted Education strives to focus on the needs of high-potential/gifted/talented learners, parents, and educators. Our academic enrichment programs are designed to support the development of talent in high-ability, gifted, and talented learners. For specific details regarding the Rising PreK through Rising 10th Grade Programs visit our Children's Programs pages.

We are excited about all of our upcoming 2025-2026 LAgniappe Programs.

Our LAgniappe Academic Enrichment Programs for Rising PreK-K, Rising first through sixth graders, and our Rising seventh through tenth Grade Programs. For specific programs, visit our Children's Programs pages.

Our LAgniappe Educator Conference is the South's premier conference for educators and parents of high-ability/gifted learners. Every year Dr. Briggs offers excellent educational opportunities for parents, educators, administrators, and counselors of high-potential/gifted/talented students by bringing national and international leaders in the field of gifted education. Please visit the LAgniappe page for further details.

Programs for Master's in Gifted Education and Doctor of Education Exceptional Learner Concentration! See below for More Information!

Master's Degree Program in Gifted Education

Learn more about a faster way to finish your Master's in Gifted Education! This Master's in Gifted Education program provides a variety of experiences to support graduates in gaining and understanding the unique needs of gifted and talented students.

Doctorate In Educational Leadership with A Concentration in Exceptional Learners

To learn more the Doctor of Education Exceptional Learner Concentration, please contact:

Dr. Christine Briggs - cbriggs@louisiana.edu

Dr. Donna Wadsworth - dwadsworth@louisiana.edu

For more information regarding the Graduate School application and Educational Leadership program, please contact:

Dr. Sebnem Cilesiz - sebnem.cilesiz@louisiana.edu

Kathleen McIntire, Administrative Coordinator III
Office Address
Cecil J. Picard Center for Child Development and Lifelong Learning
200 East Devalcourt Street
Room 266
Lafayette, LA 70506

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 43648
Lafayette, LA 70504-3648

337-482-6701gifted@louisiana.edu

Hosted by
Dr. Christine Briggs, Director of the Center for Gifted Education