The state Board of Education yesterday expanded the definition of "gifted" students and agreed to step up monitoring of school districts' gifted-education programs.

Before taking effect, the changes must undergo a regulatory review process, including review by the House and Senate education committees.

Acting at the request of parents and other advocates, the board unanimously voted to classify students as gifted if they score at least 130 on an IQ test or meet other criteria, such as performing above grade level.

Currently, students are classified as gifted if they reach the IQ threshold and meet other criteria. Advocates said the change will allow for a fairer evaluation of students, particularly those from disadvantaged homes.

The board voted to establish a cyclical monitoring of districts' gifted programs and set up a parent complaint process. Currently, the state monitors a handful of districts each year, though there's no legal requirement that officials do so.

The board also voted to change from 60 calendar days to 60 school days the amount of time a district has to process a student's request for gifted services.

And it reduced the maximum number of students on a gifted teacher's caseload from 75 to 65 by 2010 and to leave at 20 the number of students a gifted teacher may have on any class roster.