This discussion of issues in gifted education focuses on the need to support effective practices that are also equitable. The article considers problems with defining gifted students as the "cognitive elite," the provision of qualitatively different programs to gifted children, and the need for challenging intellectual work and development of…

Analysis of current critiques of gifted education considers four common concerns: (1) whether giftedness exists; (2) whether students who possess giftedness can be identified; (3) whether such students can be provided with quality differentiated programs and services; and (4) whether it is morally correct to provide such programs or services. (DB)