To identify a future research agenda with the goal of narrowing the achievement gap between underrepresented groups and their peers in gifted and talented education, The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented (NRC/GT) at the University of Connecticut convened a Needs Assessment Conference in January 2005 and commissioned four…

Noting that the identification of exceptional potential in young children must become a better informed process in order to provide appropriate schooling to develop that potential, the purpose of this study was to extend knowledge of the many ways in which emerging gifted ability in children from diverse backgrounds may show itself in home and…

This document discusses an Israeli project which targeted intelligent students in disadvantaged areas for special help with the objective being to encourage their college attendance. The introduction describes problems which confront any educational system in a democratic society, such as fostering adolescent development and encouraging quality…

The immigrant population of Israel falls into two large groups: those of European descent and those from North African and Middle Eastern countries. Families from traditionally agrarian Arab countries generally have a lower socioeconomic status, and their children have difficulty competing in school with children from a more urban, industrialized,…

This paper discussed using vertical teaming as a way to organize multi-year curriculum planning for academically talented adolescents. Vertical teams include educators from different grade levels in a given discipline who work cooperatively to develop and implement a vertically aligned program aimed at helping students acquire the skills necessary…

Programs for disadvantaged gifted students require teachers with a number of positive characteristics and a relevant curriculum. The New Challenge Program created by the University of Texas Pan-American College of Education is a Saturday morning enrichment program for disadvantaged gifted children. Students select from classes such as Basic and…

This paper describes the broad goals of an American Indian Teacher Training Program (AITTP), a master's program focusing on teaching gifted and talented Native Americans. The program is administered by American Indian Research and Development, Inc. (AIRD) through Oklahoma City University, with the goal of helping up to 10 American Indian educators…

This paper discusses problems related to identification of gifted Hispanic children in rural areas. While the federal definition of giftedness is subscribed to by most states, local districts tend to seek and find White, middle-class academic achievers. One problem associated with identification of gifted minorities is that the research and…

This conference presentation begins with an outline of the assumptions involved in a theoretical model for the teaching of creatively gifted young children. The assumptions include: (1) creativity is continuous, not dichotomous; (2) creativity is a dynamic, interactive, and multidimensional process; (3) creativity may encompass intentionality but…

Included in Israel's population is a culturally disadvantaged group comprised primarily of immigrants and their children from non-European backgrounds such as North African and Middle Eastern countries. This group has shown a lower level of educational achievement than their European counterparts, and a number of education and social policies have…

This study investigated the effectiveness of a performance-based assessment (DISCOVER (Discovering Intellectual Strengths and Capabilities through Observation while allowing for Varied Ethnic Responses)) in identifying gifted minority middle school students. Research questions focused on examining the alignment between DISCOVER and Gardner's…

Poverty prevalent in rural areas is associated with unequal representation in gifted programs. Some impediments to equal access include cultural prejudice, family distrust of schools, the stigma of academic success, inappropriate identification practices, and poor funding for rural programs. Five rural states have adopted measures to promote…

Provisions for gifted student identification and educational programming in Australia, the USSR, Venezuela, Brazil, Indonesia, Israel, and the Peoples Republic of China, and the United Kingdom are discussed. Concern for locating and serving the gifted is apparent in all these countries. Issues and program efforts in gifted education are quite…

This study explored teacher perceptions toward giftedness among rural children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, before and after staff development. The study also explored the influence of staff development on teacher-designed instructional strategies to nurture giftedness. Five teachers at a K-4 school in rural Arkansas participated…

This paper discusses three schools that have started a program designed to include at-risk students in gifted and talented programming by promoting systemic changes in student identification for gifted and talented classes and differentiated instruction in the regular classroom setting. The study conducted teaching observations and analyzed…