An ALP is an Advanced Learning Plan written specifically for a student's unique needs. The ALP describes the student's present level of functioning and includes goals that guide the unique cognitive and affective needs of a gifted student. Students and parents are included in the ALP planning process.  It is a legal document and is also a living document, which means that it can be edited at any time. Annually, new goals in the ALP will be written for each student. Parents and teachers will receive a copy of the ALP after all parties have signed and agree to the contents.  

Intellectual giftedness describes someone who is capable of high performance in many areas due to a set of individual attributes, such as persistent intellectual curiosity, considerable depth of knowledge in multiple areas, high level of critical and abstract thinking, concern for world problems and/or fairness, and an unusually high intensity and/or depth of feeling.

On the other hand, academic talent is a specific aptitude in one or more academic areas due to an innate understanding and/or highly developed practice. For instance, a student may be academically talented in math or writing.

Because the definition of giftedness varies from state to state and district to district, the gifted determination team will evaluate the past record of any student who has been identified as a gifted learner in another district. Placement decisions will be made on the basis of the identification process established by Canon City Schools.