Gifted education is leading an interdisciplinary paradigm shift moving education out of its historic role of entrenching systemic inequities. It is a crucible for pioneering investigations of optimal human development and provides a vehicle for increasing social equity. We review changing conceptions of intelligence, motivation and creativity, and…

This article describes critical events that have shaped gifted education, including: the work of Lewis Terman and Leta Hollingworth, establishment of the National Association for Gifted Children, the First World Conference for Gifted Children, differentiated curriculum, federal gifted legislation, and the publication of "National Excellence:…