America has a tremendous need for talent. This executive summary examines which states have implemented policy changes that can help close excellence gaps. States can and should take the lead in promoting educational excellence and eliminating excellence gaps. Six recommendations to states are presented. [For the full report "Equal Talents,…

A growing body of research offers evidence that high-ability students from lower-income families are far less likely than wealthier students to be identified for advanced level course work and opportunities. They are also less likely to achieve at high levels, despite their aptitude. Lacking access to the enriched academic opportunities,…

Academically talented students in many urban areas in the authors' Northeastern corner of the county have limited access to gifted and talented programs due to lack of funding and attention focused on students who are achieving well below grade level. In the city of Hartford, for example, no gifted program has been available for more than a…

Racial and ethnic disproportionality in gifted education is a persistent and perennial inequity in many school districts. This report describes the root causes of this disproportionality and discusses ways in which this issue can be addressed. Whereas most of the attention has been paid to assessment, specifically the use of nonverbal tests to…

Describes the educational reform in Hong Kong (China), specifically providing equal access to educational opportunities and allowing students to develop to their fullest academic potential. Focuses on a model that balances equity and excellence, the TALENT approach, exploring six areas of practice (talent, acceleration, learning styles,…

Reviews the history of education for the gifted and talented. Defines giftedness as multifaceted including general intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, creative and productive thinking, leadership ability, visual and performing arts, and psychomotor ability. Suggests that using better methods to identify gifted students points to a…