This article describes district-wide cultural proficiency efforts and how they affected the policies and practices of identifying and serving culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse (CLED) student populations in gifted education. Data were taken from a larger study and included interviews, focus groups, and observations of the…

The field of gifted education, historically and contemporarily, is not well-known for being equitable for underrepresented students, specifically, Black, Hispanic, Native American, among others. In this article, we present a short history of gifted education with attention to key historical figures who have significantly shaped the field; their…

This article highlights problems inherent in traditional screening measures for giftedness and suggests the student portfolio as a promising alternative for the identification of gifted children, especially those from special populations. Examples of items to be included in portfolios include writing samples, journals, artwork, projects, class…

In this article, the author asks why we assume that we must define something before we can begin to understand it? Is that assumption a holdover from the predominantly behaviorist orientation of the 1950s when everything had to be measurable? Haven't we gotten past the paradigm of defining, measuring, then studying phenomena? If physicists had to…

The paper summarizes literature on assessment of gifted minority students. Measurement issues are outlined, published reports of research designed to identify gifted minority students are reviewed, and various aspects of assessment of gifted minority pupils are discussed. Recommendations include being aware of cultural diversity, expanding the…

Different cultures have different conceptions of what it means to be gifted. But in identifying children as gifted, we often use only our own conception, ignoring the cultural context in which the children grew up. Such identification is inadequate and fails to do justice to the richness of the world's cultures. It also misses children who are…

A proper proportion of low-income participants and children of color should be identified for gifted/talented education programs. A modified quota system can be implemented by combining the use of intelligence tests and behavioral scales with individualized selection procedures that provide special consideration for poor, minority, and handicapped…

This study examined possible differences between teacher ratings of Anglo-American and Hispanic students based on the student's acculturation level in the context of using behavior rating scales to identify students for gifted education programs. Findings indicated significant differences between teacher ratings of Anglo-American and Hispanic…

This study assessed the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) with 68 Mexican American students (ages 6 to 16) referred for intellectually gifted assessments. Analysis found differences with three previously identified main factors (verbal comprehension, perceptual organization, and freedom from…

This study examined use of Sternberg and Zhang's (1995) pentagonal implicit theory of giftedness by 189 preservice teachers in China. In making judgments about giftedness, study participants considered three of the models' five criteria: excellence, productivity, and value (but not rarity and demonstrability). Results are compared to similar…

This article examines the Office for Civil Rights' (OCR) position on non-discriminatory testing, polices and practices and the role and responsibility of the OCR in securing the civil rights of culturally and linguistically diverse students in the context of gifted education. Possible discriminatory practices in gifted education are outlined.…

This article reports on a project responding to the need for culturally relevant alternatives to existing assessment practices in the identification of giftedness among rural Mexican Americans in the southwestern United States. Students identified using multidimensional and holistic procedures showed similar cognitive and performance profiles to…

Suggestions are made for a new paradigm for identifying talent potential in underserved populations. Suggestions focus on dynamic assessment of gifted behaviors within students' own sociocultural contexts, more varied and more authentic assessment, and integrating identification processes with learning opportunities. (Author/PB)

This article begins with an overview of how historic notions of presumed African American intellectual inferiority permeate gifted education. The effect of race and its implications for gifted education are then examined, along with the influence of peer culture on African American schooling. The need for additional research is stressed. (Contains…

This article reviews factors affecting the persistent underrepresentation of black students in gifted education and offers suggestions for recruiting and retaining these students. It is argued that a deficit orientation held by educators hinders access to gifted programs for diverse students, and that too often educators interpret differences as…