While states have developed policies around a cut-off date for kindergarten entrance, some parents chose to have their child enter kindergarten before this date (Early Entrance) as an acceleration technique, or hold the child back from entering, a practice termed Redshirting, to allow for greater maturity and increased achievement in relation to…

The article focuses on educational acceleration as one means of providing for gifted children. The Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) is explained to allow for individual differences and to be resolutely interventional, longitudinal, and accelerative. (PHR)

This paper on early college entrance for gifted high-school students considers the advantages of early college entrance, the willingness of colleges and universities to accept early entrants, special programs developed to assist early entrants, and potential difficulties with early entrance. Guidelines are presented for maximizing the chances of…

As part of a larger study on differences between public and private schools in the education of gifted students, this study examined use of acceleration as an educational approach. The paper notes that although the weight of research evidence strongly supports the position that acceleration is a highly effective intervention technique with…

The effects of being six months younger than grade level were studied using seventh through twelfth grade students in Montgomery County (MD) Public Schools. The racial, sexual, and academic characteristics of the accelerated students and the effects of age/grade differences on selected academic areas and social activities were examined using…

This study surveyed underachieving gifted students and their parents in order to: determine the extent and sources of positive and negative attitudes toward educational acceleration, compare the views of parents and students for congruence, and compare the perceptions of successful students and their parents with the views of identified…

This paper (1) presents a critical analysis of the literature on school readiness and school failure; (2) discusses the problems that ill conceived policies based upon readiness studies present to the education of learning disabled, regular class, and gifted children; and (3) offers guidelines for policies and programs. Methodological issues…

This paper discusses research on early entrance to public school and individual decisions regarding early entrance. The discussion of research findings briefly alludes to four areas of research relevant to the early admission of children to kindergarten and first grade. These areas of research concern: (1) attitudes of school personnel; (2)…

This literature review describes and evaluates five accelerative methods for teaching intellectually gifted students at the secondary level. The review stresses the importance of matching student characteristics and instructional type, citing research demonstrating that intellectually gifted students achieve at higher levels when their educational…

This paper examines the impact on small rural school districts of school choice programs available in Minnesota. An opening section traces the history of school choice in Minnesota since 1983, focusing on two programs enacted in 1990: enrollment options (EO), which allows students to attend any public school without cost, and postsecondary…

Drawing upon successful practices by American and Canadian universities in providing educational opportunities for gifted children, this paper evaluates the feasibility of adopting similar programs in the Republic of South Africa. A rationale is presented for the role of the university in providing educational programs for gifted and talented…

The great value of standardized tests for locating talent that would otherwise be likely to remain submerged and unidentified is emphasized. Such tests must be appropriate to the actual ability level of the persons tested, regardless of their grade level, so that sufficient ceilings may be obtained and power of minds probed adequately. High test…