Can enrichment and accelerated programs contribute to the talent development of gifted students?
To learn more, the Center for Talent Development recently surveyed 187 (out of 540) parents of students who attended its Fall 2002 Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP) for talented PreK-9th graders. The study indicated that a primary reason parents enroll their children in SEP is a desire for their child to experience academic challenge. In fact, parents generally thought their children did grow academically through participating in SEP. For instance, parents perceived gains in scholastic skills or knowledge, greater motivation to learn and interest in studied subject areas, and increased academic competence. Parents also thought that SEP classes provided their child with challenge and enjoyment, as well with strong instruction (including depth and breadth of subject matter, interdisciplinary approaches, and experiential learning experiences). Overall, having their children participate in SEP raised parents’ academic expectations for their children. Of those parents who contacted school p
