In the United States, the default education strategy is to group students by age. This assumes that students who are the same age have similar learning needs as each other and will learn best when grouped in the same classroom together. However, a group of researchers recently assessed how many students perform above grade level. In other words, they looked at how many fourth grade students could, on the first day of fourth grade, demonstrate performance at the fifth grade level. … [Read more...] about Many Students Perform Above Grade Level
federal policy
Navigating the World of Special Education with your Gifted Student
By definition, a twice-exceptional (2e) student is one with two exceptionalities—giftedness along with a disability. Familiarizing yourself with the world of gifted education is a difficult task in itself, but when coupled with trying to understand special education options, it can be overwhelming. Unlike gifted education, in the world of special education, there are federal mandates governing the way in which students qualify for services and the ways in which school professionals deliver those … [Read more...] about Navigating the World of Special Education with your Gifted Student
State and Federal Government Definitions of Giftedness
One of the greatest concerns parents have is whether their child’s educational needs are being met. For parents of gifted students, the extent to which this happens is dictated by a combination of national, state, and local policies. … [Read more...] about State and Federal Government Definitions of Giftedness
Advocacy: From Micro to Macro
Our recent article, Administrators of Gifted Programs: Paying Attention to the "Man Behind the Curtain," offered a perspective on "Microadvocacy," which operates on the scale of the individual child. Equally important is advocacy at a macrolevel—across a district, a state, or the nation. … [Read more...] about Advocacy: From Micro to Macro
Administrators of Gifted Programs: Paying Attention to the “Man Behind the Curtain”
In the previous article about those who serve as administrators of gifted programs (AGP), the challenging nature of this role was explored, and the proposal set forth that the many demands that confront an administrator of a gifted program comprise a "Mission Impossible" scenario. Fortunately, there are professionals who are highly capable of merging the roles of leader, manager and advocate, and they are highly successful in their efforts on behalf of gifted students. Their effectiveness as … [Read more...] about Administrators of Gifted Programs: Paying Attention to the “Man Behind the Curtain”
Proficiency and Gifted Students
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has received significant fanfare and criticism over various effects it has had on education. One component that has received substantial attention is the focus on progress toward proficiency. Several reports have been published on the effect this move toward proficiency has had on gifted students. This article synthesizes the issues surrounding proficiency and gifted students. … [Read more...] about Proficiency and Gifted Students
Civil Rights for Gifted Students with Disabilities
Stephanie Monroe, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education, has issued an open letter to public schools regarding students with disabilities who want to enroll in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or other accelerated programs in high school. … [Read more...] about Civil Rights for Gifted Students with Disabilities
Gifted Students and the Higher Education Act
You may think that the recent update to the federal Higher Education Act (formally H.R. 4137: College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008) won’t have much of an impact on you and your family until you have a child applying for college. However, that may not be the case, necessarily. … [Read more...] about Gifted Students and the Higher Education Act
Excellence versus Equity: Political Forces in the Education of Gifted Students
Egalitarianism versus Elitism Do gifted students warrant special attention in the public schools in the United States? Rhetoric and heated political discourse surround the question of identification and education of gifted students with the philosophical positions of egalitarianism and elitism at odds. Critics of appropriately differentiated academic experiences for highly able children contend that these services are somehow unfair to other children. While, diverse special interest groups … [Read more...] about Excellence versus Equity: Political Forces in the Education of Gifted Students
Teaching Gifted Children: National Guidelines and State Requirements
Just as educational programs and curricula for gifted children differ widely from state to state, so too do the requirements for teachers of gifted children. Since no national degree or certification requirements for gifted educators exist, all policy and funding mandates come from the state and local levels. As a result, requirements for teacher training and ongoing professional development vary widely from state to state and in many cases from district to district within a given state. … [Read more...] about Teaching Gifted Children: National Guidelines and State Requirements