The Center for Gifted Education (Center) at William & Mary has provided diverse enrichment programs for high-ability students since 1988. With an aspiration to serve financially disadvantaged students, the Center developed and hosted a summer residential enrichment program in STEM areas. Camp Launch, for low-income, high-ability middle school…

In this paper, I analyze the theoretical and empirical foundations for how class composition affects gifted students' academic outcomes. First, I define the term composition effect and distinguish it from other context effects. Based on this definition, I present the mechanisms behind composition effects while drawing distinctions between…

There is substantial evidence on the effectiveness of many forms of advanced education, especially various approaches to acceleration, ability grouping, and curricular innovations such as structured curriculum and enrichment. Nonetheless, additional research on the ways in which advanced education impacts the learning and lives of students across…

The education of students identified as "gifted" has had a highly problematic history, having been judged as conceptually confused, socially and ethnically discriminatory, and educationally exclusive. Despite this, it is argued that contemporary research and scholarship critiquing the concepts of giftedness and gifted education…

This qualitative study was conducted to explore gifted students' conceptions of their high school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Participants were seven male and female college freshmen selected from the Honors College of a large research university. In-depth interviews captured students' retrospective accounts…

This issue of a research journal on gifted education explores the concept of intelligence and giftedness, talent development, gifted education, and educational research. Specific articles include: (1) "Spearman Revisited: Contemporary Views of g" (Milton Dehn); (2) "Exceptionally High Intelligence and Schooling" (Ellen Winner), which argues for…

A review of the literature on best practices, both instructional and curricular, that may lead to increased achievement among gifted students, found that flexible ability grouping, combined with appropriate curricular revision or differentiation, may result in substantial achievement gains both for average and high ability learners. (Contains…

Gifted children need help to realize their contributions to self and society. Too often their talents go unrecognized and their needs unmet. Many Americans hesitate to encourage intellectual or creative talents, but don't complain if students are separated for remedial reading or varsity athletics. (Author/MLW)

This proceedings contains summaries of 24 conference papers focusing on new directions in gifted education. Each paper's summary is about four pages in length. Papers have the following titles and authors: "Supporting Giftedness in Girls in the Classroom" (Julia Ellis); "A Community of Learners in ECS" (Anne Green);…

The book discusses the teaching of gifted and talented students. The rationale behind special education programs for such students is reviewed, and the population in question is described and defined. The chapter on identification examines such instruments as group intelligence and achievement tests, teacher nominations, and creativity tests, and…

Educational reform efforts to date in the United States have not been germane or responsive to the social problems of African American children. The reform efforts advanced to date have only been exercises in tinkering around the educational edges. Our educational focus, the origin of which is outlined, must shift in at least two major ways.…

This booklet offers teachers a variety of strategies and resources for providing different levels of content and activities that will challenge all students, including gifted learners. It begins by discussing evolving definitions of giftedness and theories of intelligence. Means of identifying gifted students and indicators of mathematical and…