The Actiotope Model of Giftedness (Ziegler, 2005) and the systemic theory of gifted education (Ziegler and Phillipson) shed light on the difficulties faced by gifted education in practice all over the world. The Actiotope Model emphasizes the importance of actions of gifted individuals and the interactions between individuals and their…

The paper argues that educators of the gifted have overlooked important evidence on the power of special environments because of our habit of considering cognitive outcomes and an outsider view of evidence as the standard for judging the benefits of special environments. The author proposes that social context be used as a construct to help…

In March 1978, under the suggestion of Chinese-born Nobel Prize laureate Tsung-Dao Lee, China launched its first gifted education program at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Based on nominations and interviews, 21 gifted students aged 11-16 were enrolled in USTC and comprised a special class. Five years later, the early…

Many attempt to address the documented achievement gap between urban and suburban students by offering special programs to enrich urban students' academic experiences and proficiencies. Such was the case in the study described by DeGennaro and Brown in which urban students participated in an after-school technology course intended to address the…

The author had the pleasure of being in an academic setting where students of color were in the majority. That was the summer of 2004 as she observed African-American Literature 1900-Present, a writing intensive class in the Special Program in Talent Development (SPTD) at the University of Rhode Island (URI). The author wants to tell the story of…

Following the whirlwind standards movement of the 1980s, the beginning of the 1990s ushered in an overwhelming interest in and use of testing to document students' progress. In 1991, the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) issued its second position paper calling for a moratorium on standardized testing in the early years of…

According to our government, the latest recession is finally over. Still, it seems to me that lots of states are wrangling with diminished budgets for schools in general and gifted programs in particular. So, if we are to maintain our own livelihoods and our field's existence, we're going to have to become innovative in our approaches to…

The article presents the viewpoints of G. Ginsberg and A. Weiner in response to nine questions about gifted children. (PHR)

In recent years, the focus of education has been on those with mental and physical disabilities. Because of this, those students with superior intellectual ability have been neglected. Causes for nonrecognition, ways to identify the gifted, and what business teachers can do are discussed. (JOW)

Argues that establishing special programs (for at-risk students or for other students) only delays making badly needed, dramatic, long-overdue changes in traditional practices of schooling. (SR)

With the increased public attention to a rapidly growing number of children being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it seems as if there is an equally rapid growth of new specialized programs catering to this group of children. The question to be considered is, if there are indeed promising models based on inclusive settings, why does…

The author warns that the generic nature of categorically funded programs presents a multitude of problems and risks to the program administrator, and suggests that these managers sharpen up their management skills if they desire professional satisfaction and success. (KC)

Basic assumptions regarding the process of identifying gifted children for special preschool programs are examined in light of traditional and contemporary definitions of giftedness. Uses and limitations of various identification techniques are discussed with an emphasis on approaches which are being used currently to identify gifted preschoolers.…

A rationale is offered for the implementation of full-time programing for gifted students, arguing that scheduling less time does not maximize their potential. Florida programs for the gifted are noted, and suggestions are offered for school district officials who wish to implement similar full-time gifted programs. (JDD)

Discusses the debate surrounding the education of gifted students in Hungary, examining whether an elitist or a democratic solution should be adopted. Considers the educational past, current problems, and psychological and pedagogical issues. Concludes that the best solution would be a democratic system that minimized social inequalities. (GEA)