History
The Center for Gifted Education was established in 1979 in response to the growing need for leadership on the east side of Washington State to facilitate the distribution of materials and provide services for the exceptionally able learner. Since state money was then available, public schools, particularly rural districts, were eager to plan categorical programs and implement curriculum. These districts felt that their situations differed greatly from the large metropolitan districts west of the Cascades. Consequently, the Center for Gifted Education at Whitworth University was established to offer graduate courses and to provide in-service, consultant aid and other practical resources.

Definition
The Center's original definition for gifted and talented was current with the federal definition: A person is defined as gifted and talented if he or she excels or shows the potential to excel in one of the following six human endeavors to the extent that he or she needs and can profit from specially planned programs and services: general intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, creativity, leadership, performing arts/graphic arts, or athletics.

At present, the Center agrees with the National Association for Gifted Children and supports the viewpoint that there are many ways to identify giftedness. We particularly support the Multiple Intelligence theories of Howard Gardner, J.P. Guilford and Mary Meeker, and Robert Sternberg. We believe that each school district and every teacher needs to be able to articulate who is being identified as exceptional.

Philosophy
We support and develop policies and practices that encourage and respond to the diverse expressions of gifts and talents in children and youth from all cultures, racial and ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic groups. To this end, we support and engage in research and development, staff development, advocacy, communication and collaboration with other organizations and agencies that strive to improve the quality of education for all students. Therefore, it is the commitment of the Center for Gifted Education to disseminate information, services and materials to individuals, parents and schools in order to best accomplish excellence and accountability in the education of gifted and talented students.

With this definition and our philosophy as guidelines, the Center provides assistance to Whitworth University's undergraduate teacher education and graduate programs, public and private school districts, teachers, parents and gifted students.