Effective early education for gifted children must include special policy and program considerations. Preschool/day-care efforts should be based on the child's needs, special program goals, appropriate placement or grouping, and parent involvement. Administration convenience must yield to developmental efficacy to provide early admittance to…

York County (Canada) rolled back the age requirement for kindergarten admission so as to permit the enrollment of four-year-olds wherever space was available. This was done because kindergarten enrollment in many communities were declining and if junior kindergartens were established in all community schools, many would have very small…

Data from 102 of 108 local education authorities in England showed a trend toward earlier admission to school (age 4). Provision of appropriate conditions for four-year olds had been a low priority in many districts. Factors influencing the trend included government policy, funding changes, and lack of high-quality preschool facilities. (SK)

This pamphlet (Practitioner's Guide), in both an English version and Spanish version, is intended for parents of precocious readers. Research facts on early reading are briefly summarized. Implications for the classroom and home are offered and include a discussion of early school entrance, principles of reading instruction, and ways the parent…

THE BALTIMORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS INSTITUTED A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF 4- AND 5-YEAR-OLD, CULTURALLY DEPRIVED CHILDREN. THIS PROGRAM ATTEMPTED TO ESTABLISH A RAPPORT BETWEEN TEACHERS AND PARENTS, AND TO PREPARE THE CHILDREN FOR REGULAR SCHOOL CLASSES. THE CHILDREN WERE PUT IN A SENSORY-RICH LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO AROUSE INTEREST,…

This article reports on the results of a study in which performances of kindergarten tasks by early entrants to kindergarten and regular-age entrants were compared at the end of the school year. The need for research-based criteria for success in kindergarten for males and females is explored. (DF)

THE EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE WHETHER EARLY ADMISSION TO SCHOOL CAN OVERCOME BARRIERS TO LEARNING WHICH ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SEEM TO IMPOSE. A DEPRIVED CHILD OFTEN DOES NOT RECEIVE ATTENTION, AFFECTION, OR GUIDANCE WITHIN HIS HOME. THE YOUNG CHILD SHOULD BE HELPED TO DEVELOP A WHOLESOME SELF-CONCEPT, TO ACQUIRE THE DRIVE TO…

This reprint of an article on the identification of and programming for gifted preschoolers is preceded by a commentary that stresses the gulf between parents' and teachers' perceptions and beliefs when it comes to precocious young children. Findings from the study indicate parents were much more supportive of curriculum differentiation. (Contains…

A survey explored issues and concerns of 46 parents of gifted preschoolers and 23 preschool/kindergarten teachers surrounding early identification and programming for giftedness. The majority of participants reported that early identification can and should be done, and supported the practice of differentiated curriculum. Early admission was not…

CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN SUBSTANDARD OR OVERCROWDED INNER CITY DWELLINGS IN BALTIMORE WERE SELECTED FOR AN EXPERIMENTAL PRESCHOOL PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY TYPIFIED THE CULTURALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUNGSTERS WHO COULD BE EXPECTED TO SUFFER FAILURE OR FRUSTRATION UPON PUBLIC SCHOOL ENTRY AT THE AGES OF FIVE OR SIX. CENTERS WERE OPENED IN 1963.…

This bibliography includes materials that address themselves to the problems arising in setting up "junior kindergartens" to enroll children 4 years of age. It is restricted to preschool education within a public school setting and does not deal with the question of day care centers and private nursery schools. The bibliography is…

This document combines all 1983 issues of a newsletter that focuses on issues of giftedness and talent. Among the major articles are discussions of the talent search conducted at five universities across the country; personal counseling approaches; the transition from high school to college; comparisons among Japanese, Soviet, and U.S. schools;…

This report describes the comparisons of three groups of 1976-77 kindergarten students in the Seattle, Washington public schools: (1) early entrants who were screened by the Student Services Office; (2) early entrants admitted by school principals; and (3) a random sample of non-early entrants. The groups were compared on the basis of teacher…