Reply to Another reason why labeling students as being gifted is counterproductive

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[quote=Anonymous][quote]"The answer to this disparity isn't to stop identifying kids who have special learning needs due to giftedness"

+million. OP, the conclusion you take from this article is completely inapt. The reason gifted testing, identification, and programming exists is to serve the needs of a certain group of students. This article says that the identification portion needs to be done better, which is old news for those involved in gifted education. Many - gifted kids with learning disabilities, gifted kids who are gifted in non-traditional ways (think music or art ability) - fall through the cracks, not because of their race. So the conclusion should be to work on doing a better job identifying kids for these programs, not denying these programs to those who need it.

And wrt to the suggestions that gifted programming precludes other students from AP/advanced tracked programs, that should not be the intent or result of a well-designed gifted program. Again, different sets of kids have different needs.[/quote]

NP here.

There are very few students who are truly gifted enough to make the case they have special learning needs. The vast majority of students in gifted programs do not meet the definition of gifted. They are merely very bright and/or motivated. This is not to say that these students don't have learning needs, merely that their learning needs are not "special" and can be adequately served in a truly differentiated classroom. So called gifted programs skim these children off and do not meet the needs of students with true special learning needs (including students who are often referred to as 2e, students with learning disabilities, and other students who can benefit from instruction that meets their individual learning needs).

The push to expand "gifted" programs is just a push for glorified permanent tracking, with no flexibility or ability to meet the needs of students with special learning needs. Better to spend money on creating true differentiated learning environments, with more special needs educators (including ones who know how to create curriculum for the brighter kids, the 2e kids, the kids with learning difficulties, etc) This environment should have flexible ability grouping, with pull out for enrichment or remediation in a variety of subjects, so the kids advanced in reading, but say middle of the road in math, can be challenged in their strength areas within the regular environment, rather then being isolated in a special program that is no more tailored to their specific needs than the regular classroom.

When 30-40% of students qualify for gifted programs and many more appeal themselves into such programs, the programs themselves are a joke and a poor allocation of resources.

Why not fight to change the whole learning environment to better serve all individual needs?

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