Low income and minority students are substantially underrepresented in gifted and talented education programs all across the United States. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, in the U.S. in 2006, 13.1% of Asian/Pacific Islander students and 8% of white students had been identified as gifted whereas only 4.2% of Hispanic students and 3.6% of black students had been identified. Although a number of environmental and societal reasons may contribute to such a … [Read more...] about Increasing Representation of Low Income and Minority Students in Gifted Education
diversity
Gifted Underrepresentation
Many schools struggle to ensure that gifted program identification practices are fairly and consistently applied to all students, regardless of their backgrounds. To shed light on this issue, researchers assessed the rates at which students are assigned to gifted programs based on race or ethnicity. Using data from a nationally representative dataset of students enrolled in public elementary schools with gifted programs, their results showed: … [Read more...] about Gifted Underrepresentation
New Report on Excellence Gaps in U.S. Education
Achievement gaps have been discussed in education for decades. Performance differences across different groups of students are important indicators of how education services are being received by students. However, a new report, Mind (the other) Gap!, from the Indiana University Center for Evaluation and Education Policy takes an important new angle on this old problem. … [Read more...] about New Report on Excellence Gaps in U.S. Education
Looking for Appropriate Services for Gifted English Language Learners
What should an effective gifted program look like? This question may be difficult for any parent to answer, and it can be especially difficult for parents who have moved to the U.S. as adults. This is not only because there may be a language barrier, but also because our schools often are very different from schools in other countries. Gifted programming varies so widely in the U.S. that the closest we come to a description are explanations of service delivery models. These may involve: … [Read more...] about Looking for Appropriate Services for Gifted English Language Learners
English Language Learner Students and Gifted Identification
Among all the subgroups of students whose performance in school is commonly studied, English language learners (ELLs) are the least represented in gifted education programs. A variety of related reasons may account for this state of affairs, but the nature of gifted identification procedures is probably one of the more important causes. … [Read more...] about English Language Learner Students and Gifted Identification
“High-Achieving Students in the Era of NCLB:” A Summary of the Fordham Report
Since its inception in 2001, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) appears to be meeting one of its major objectives: to close the achievement gap between high- and low- achieving students nationwide. The situation, however, is a bit more complicated. While much national attention has focused on laudable improvements among low-performing students, a study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute of NCLB’s effects on high-achieving students indicates less than stellar progress among the nation’s … [Read more...] about “High-Achieving Students in the Era of NCLB:” A Summary of the Fordham Report
How do I know if my child is in with the right peer group?
Developing and maintaining friendships is an important aspect of any child’s development. However, for many gifted kids this can be a struggle. The second friendship article offers some talking points that may be helpful when discussing friendship with a gifted child. We include both articles to show a variety of views on friendship. Differences of opinion don’t always signify one being right and the other wrong, but rather differing values of what is important. … [Read more...] about How do I know if my child is in with the right peer group?
Minority Children in Gifted Education: A Problem and a Solution
Most parents know that school administrators use intelligence tests to identify gifted children. What most parents do not know is that the content of these tests can have a powerful influence on who is identified as gifted and who is not. The tests can block minority children, especially those with limited English-language skills or limited preschool experience, from admission to special programs, or they can be the keys that let these children in. It all depends on which tests are used. … [Read more...] about Minority Children in Gifted Education: A Problem and a Solution
Raising Culturally Responsive and Responsible Children
Given the ever-increasing diversity in our nation and schools, it is essential for parents to address their children’s cultural development. Although engendering cultural awareness and sensitivity in all children is important, gifted students tend to have an especially keen sense of justice. Hence they tend to be concerned about inequities, racism, and prejudice. Parents must provide their gifted children with experiences that encourage them to make a positive difference in society. At the same … [Read more...] about Raising Culturally Responsive and Responsible Children