For more than a half century, concerns have existed about the persistent underrepresentation of African American students in gifted education and advanced Placement classes. Various recommendations to reverse underrepresentation have been proposed, with the majority focusing on testing and assessment instruments. Nonetheless, progress has been…

While Robinson argues that we are sacrificing the needs of gifted students--"we are punishing the innocent for the sins of a society that has been unable to conquer these problems" (p. 251)--I propose a different argument: We are punishing diverse students, also innocent victims, for the sins of a society and an educational system that have not…

Discussion of the issues of under representation of diverse students, especially African Americans, in programs for gifted students and of underachievement of minority students suggests a solution to both issues is for schools to create culturally responsive classrooms. The article describes the needs of diverse students and offers several…

Discussion of J. Renzulli's Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) finds that the model's focus on talent development allows increased access to opportunity, excellence, and equity for minority students who have been shut out of gifted education. (Contains references.) (Author/DB)

This article highlights components of educational reform currently underway in Kentucky, with emphasis on implications for gifted black students. Addressed are school system structural changes, authentic assessment, the primary preschool program, extended school services, Family Resource and Youth Services Centers, and site-based decision making.…

Interviews with 148 African-American fifth- and sixth-grade students (in either gifted, above average, or average academic programs) found that gifted students, regardless of gender, were most supportive of the U.S. achievement ideology, and average students were least supportive. Discrepancies between beliefs about hard work and success and…