All+Things+NAGC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a definition of "gifted"? > **Yes.** The current federal definition of gifted students was originally developed in the 1972//Marland Report to Congress//, and has been modified several times since then. The current definition, which is located in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, is > Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities Note: States and districts are not required to use the federal definition, although many states base their definitions on the federal definition. > [|Click here] to read other definitions of giftedness.

How Many Gifted Children Are There In The U.S.? > NAGC estimates that there are approximately **3 million** academically gifted children in grades K-12 in the U.S - approximately 6% of the student population. No federal agency or organization collects these student statistics; the number is generated based on an estimate that dates back to the 1972 //Marland Report to Congress//, which estimated that 5-7% of school children are "capable of high performance" and in need of "services or activities not normally provided by the school." > Although we are not aware of national studies of the incidence of artistic talent in the student population, the number of gifted and talented students increases, depending on the number of categories of giftedness used in the estimate.

Who Makes Decisions About Gifted Students' Experiences In School? > Almost all decisions about gifted education are made at the state and local level. Although many school districts recognize that gifted and talented students are individuals with unique needs, state laws, local policies, and available funding vary widely, resulting in disparity of services between school districts and uneven protection for gifted and talented students under the law. > In many instances, gifted students must rely on a persistent parent, a responsive teacher, or an innovative school administrator to ensure that they are adequately challenged in the classroom. Because this task isn't always easy, NAGC is committed to increasing awareness of the importance of quality gifted education programming for high-ability learners. In many ways, we all have a voice in determining how schools value and nurture students' gifts and talents. > For practical advice about getting involved and making your voice heard at all levels, visit our [|Advocacy Toolkit].

What Are The Different Ways Gifted Students Are Served In The Classroom? > Because every child is different, NAGC recognizes that there is no "one perfect program" for teaching gifted students. Instead, the //NAGC Pre-K--Grade 12 Gifted Program Standards// state that "a continuum of services must exist for gifted learners" at every level. > **What exactly does this mean?** Essentially, a "continuum of services" provides administrators, teachers, parents, and students with a menu of educational options that are respectful of individual student differences and mindful of classroom and community resources. In most cases, the decisions about the range of services offered are made locally, and may include pull-out programs, advanced classes, varied grouping strategies, acceleration, differentiation of curriculum and instruction, dual enrollment, magnet schools, and specialized, self-contained schools (e.g., high schools for performing arts). > This range of services can be organized in a variety of ways: > Bear in mind that some district practices (e.g., early entrance to kindergarten or dual enrollment in high school and college) are governed by state policy, which often supersedes local policies and practices. Advocates should take time to familiarize themselves with state and local law and policies as well as with the [|gifted education-specific terminology]. > To learn more about recommended best practices, read " [|What It Means to Teach Gifted Learners Well] " by Carol Ann Tomlinson.
 * Accommodations in the regular classroom
 * Part-time assignment to both regular and special classes
 * Full-time grouping with students of similar abilities
 * Acceleration or grade advancement

How Do I Know If A Gifted Program Is Of High Quality? > In any school district, high quality gifted programming requires careful planning, maintenance, and evaluation. One of the best ways to determine whether a gifted program "measures up" is to compare the various components of the existing programs and services to the // [|NAGC Pre-K-Grade 12 Gifted Program Standards] //. The //Standards// were written by a distinguished panel of educators who represent a wide range of expertise and geographical areas. The //Standards// establish a set of minimal and exemplary criteria for seven different aspects of effective programming: Curriculum and Instruction, Program Administration and Management, Program Design, Program Evaluation, Socio-Emotional Guidance and Counseling, Professional Development, and Student Identification, and can be used for planning purposes or as an evaluation tool.

What Kind Of Training Does A Teacher Need To Work With Gifted Students? > You might think twice before sending a tennis coach to baseball's spring training season; although there would be overlap in general kinesthetic and sports psychology knowledge, the nuances of the two sports are very different and require disparate sets of coaching skills. Just as a baseball team needs a coach who understands baseball, gifted students need guidance from well-trained, challenging teachers who understand their educational needs. > Teacher training requirements for working with gifted students are determined at the state and local levels. Although gifted and talented students are in every school and classroom, few districts require that all classroom teachers receive training to address the educational needs of advanced learners. > Research indicates that teachers who have received training in gifted education are more likely to foster higher-level thinking, allow for greater student expression, consider individual student strengths and weaknesses, and provide a variety of learning experiences to challenge students. This vital expertise that benefits all students is not developed merely as a result of one-hour training sessions; refining teacher skills requires high-quality professional development, time, materials, and continued support. > For more information, read NAGC's official position statement " [|Competencies Needed by Teachers of Gifted and Talented Students] ."

How Much Does The Federal Government Spend On Gifted Education? > The federal government does not provide funding directly to local school districts for programs and services for gifted and talented students. > The Congress allocated $7.5 million in 2010 for the [|Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act], which funds the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented and funds grants that focus on identifying and serving students who are traditionally under-represented in gifted and talented programs-students from culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse backgrounds--to help reduce gaps in achievement and to encourage the establishment of equal educational opportunities for all U.S. students.

Does No Child Left Behind Address The Needs Of Gifted Students? > The short answer to this question is, "No." The law was written to address students performing at below proficient levels, which have resulted unintended negative consequences for gifted students including reduction of gifted services, reassignment of teachers from gifted education programs, and an increased focus on repetition and test-preparation in our nation's classrooms. > However, NCLB's provisions requiring highly qualified teachers in public school classrooms have the potential to benefit all students, including gifted and talented learners. > To see additional questions and answers on NCLB, [|click here]. Do The Common Core Standards Address The Needs Of Gifted Students? > The Common Core lanuage arts and mathematics standards have been written to uphold and advance high standards for all students. For advanced students, however, fidelity to grade-level standards will limit learning. The drafters of the Common Core did not write standards for advanced learners and have acknowledged that some students will be ready to move beyond these standards before the end of the year. > For a more in-depth look at the standards and gifted learners, see [|here].

How Much Money Is Spent On Gifted Education? > No federal agency gathers information about the total expenditures for gifted and talented students. As stated above, the federal government does not provide funding directly to districts specifically for gifted education. NAGC gathers information about the amount of funding states spend for gifted education, although it is not possible to know the amount districts are spending from local funds. > Not all states spend money for gifted and talented education. Among those that do, not all designate funds based on numbers of gifted students but instead use a range of funding formulas and implementation procedures that do not always result in an equitable distribution of funds. > In states without state funds for gifted students, education for gifted and talented students can continue only in communities that can provide the services without state or federal help. > [|Click here] to learn more about the current level of funding in your state.

Do Any States Have "Academies" For Advanced Students? > **Yes.** At least 15 states have public high schools for advanced math and science and/or arts and the humanities. Although the admissions requirements vary, these high schools are typically residential schools for juniors and seniors from within the state; most of the schools are located on university campuses. > [|Click here] for a listing of public state high schools for advanced students.

Whom Do I Contact In My State? > The state department of education is one of the best places to start for seeking state-specific information related to gifted education. In most cases, they will be the repository for education laws and policies and they may also have lists of public & private schools that serve gifted students as well as designated personnel and website information specifically for gifted education. > In addition, many states have organizations affiliated with NAGC that work on state-specific initiatives and training. [|Click here] to search for a listing of state gifted education associations. > Finally, there may be other resources available to you in your local region. Visit our [|resource directory] to learn more.

Are There Any National Reports About Gifted Students Or Gifted Education? > There are two federal reports that are often cited when discussing gifted education: A Nation at Risk (1983) and National Excellence: A Case For Developing America's Talent (1993). They both highlight the missed opportunities to identify and serve gifted students in the U.S. resulting in a call for additional research and programming in the field of gifted education. > The issuance of national program standards by NAGC in 1998 also helped solidify the field's intent and provide school districts across the country with a set of programming criteria. Published in 2004, A Nation Deceived reported on the advantages of acceleration for gifted children, which illustrated America's inability to properly meet the needs of its most able students despite the overwhelming research supporting acceleration practices in schools.

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> Finally, there are many research monographs and other informational resources available from the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented (NRC-G/T)which is funded by the Jacob K. Javits Act.  What Are The Most Common Myths Confronted By Supporters Of Gifted And Talented Education? > For decades, myths related to gifted education have had detrimental effects on providing quality instruction for our nation's high-ability learners. These myths have affected every facet of the field, and in turn have distorted the perception of not only what gifted students need in the classroom but also what they can offer the nation now and into the future. >     NAGC has compiled a list of the most prevalent myths in gifted education, complete with supporting links with evidence explaining why the myth is untrue. Information contained on subsequent pages provides you with the arguments and facts needed to rebut, and hopefully dispel, these myths. [|Click here to continue to "Common Myths In GIfted Education."]

<span class="Page_Title" style="color: #654190; font-size: 26px;">What The Research Says: Gifted Education Works Separate studies conducted during the last few decades have demonstrated both the need for and the benefits of gifted education programs. Of special interest are the documented benefits that occur for all children when gifted education strategies and programs are extended to other students, as well. Simply stated…….**Gifted Education Works**!

Please **click** on a link below for more information on the research-based evidence supporting the distinctive method or methods listed below. <span class="Heading_Large" style="color: #654190; font-size: 16px;"> Gifted Education Strategies Work Gifted and talented students and those with high abilities need gifted education programs that will challenge them in regular classroom settings and enrichment and accelerated programs to enable them to make continuous progress in school.

<span class="Heading_Large" style="color: #654190; font-size: 16px;"> Acceleration Works Educational acceleration is one of the cornerstones of exemplary gifted education practices, with more research supporting this intervention than any other in the literature on gifted individuals. The practice of educational acceleration has long been used to match high level student general ability and specific talent with optimal learning opportunities.

<span class="Heading_Large" style="color: #654190; font-size: 16px;"> Grouping Works
 * New!** Click Here for //**Guidelines for Developing an Academic Acceleration Policy**//

The practice of grouping, placing students with similar abilities and/or performance together for instruction, has been shown to positively impact student learning gains. Grouping gifted children together allows for more appropriate, rapid, and advanced instruction, which matches the rapidly developing skills and capabilities of gifted students.

<span class="Heading_Large" style="color: #654190; font-size: 16px;"> Curriculum Compacting Works

This important instructional strategy condenses, modifies, or streamlines the regular curriculum to reduce repetition of previously mastered material. “Compacting” what students already know allows time for acceleration or enrichment beyond the basic curriculum for students who would otherwise be simply practicing what they already know.

<span class="Heading_Large" style="color: #654190; font-size: 16px;"> Advanced Placement Works Gifted and talented students thrive in an environment that values advanced content, rigor, and higher-order thinking. AP is one well-know acceleration option for for high-ability students.

<span class="Heading_Large" style="color: #654190; font-size: 16px;"> Pull-Out Programs And Specialized Classes Work Programming options for gifted and talented students occur in a variety of ways, and research demonstrates the effectiveness of pull-out and specialized classes and their curriculum in raising student achievement.

Read why [|Teacher Training Makes a Difference] Return to [|Why Gifted and Talented Education is Important] Return to [|Advocacy Toolkit]