Gifted and Talented Programs - Should Your Child Attend One?

In this episode we explore gifted and talented programs and the need for fair, accurate identification of students, and sustained support. We read articles that both support and question the value of G&T or GATE programs. Some of the questions addressed in this episode include: How fair are the tests children take to qualify for gifted programs? Are there racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to GT programs? What equity problems exist with gifted programs? What qualities should schools consider when determining access to gifted programs? Test scores? Academic aptitude? Creative thinking? Leadershipm abilities? Aptitude in the arts? Do IQ scores change over time? Are there biases in the tests students take to qualify for gifted programs? Do children in gifted classrooms get a better education than children in general education classrooms? Is there a downside to labeling a child as “gifted?” Should you tell your gifted child that they are gifted? Are gifted children usually high achievers? Does being gifted translate to career and life success? How can more children get access to gifted programs? In this episode, we discuss how being labeled gifted can become a fragile identity that reduces curiosity and discourages persistence in some chidlren. We recommend universal screening, multiple objective measures, improved teacher training, and rebranding programs as advanced learner programs to reduce stigma and broaden access. We think that schools should provide appropriately paced, challenging instruction while teaching children that effort and curiosity matter more than innate labels. We conclude that by saying that preserving and improving programs for advanced learners rather than eliminating them best serves individual students and the wider society. Articles we Read: The Mirage of the Gifted Child, Katie Arnold-Batliff, NY Magazine I was Enrolled in a ‘Gifted’ Program as a Kid. Years Later, I Discovered a Dark Side I Never Knew About, by Sophie Boudreau, Huffington Post The Case for Gifted Education - Subhead: Personal Perspective: Why Equity shouldn’t mean holding bright minds back, by Tyler Woods, Psychology Today