The National Association for Gifted Children had high hopes that Florida might have taken the lead in making sure all gifted students receive instruction from teachers specifically trained to meet their needs.

"To give an idea of how large this would have been, today only four states require annual staff development hours in gifted education for regular classroom teachers," association spokesman Nick Manetto wrote to the Gradebook.

But HB 297, sponsored by state Rep. John Legg, failed to make it through the Senate.

The problem is most dire for economically challenged communities, which often struggle to provide services beyond basic education, Manetto wrote. "Legg's bill would have helped ensure a more even distribution of gifted education and that all teachers have at least some training in the field, a big boost for students living in economically challenged locales."

The group plans to keep watching and advocating for such legislation in coming years. Interested in learning more about gifted ed? The NAGC will have its annual conference in Tampa this fall.