Who makes decisions about gifted students experiences in school?
Almost all decisions about gifted education are made at the state and local level. Although many school districts recognize that gifted and talented students are individuals with unique needs, state laws, local policies, and available funding vary widely, resulting in disparity of services between school districts and uneven protection for gifted and talented students under the law. In many instances, gifted students must rely on a persistent parent, a responsive teacher, or an innovative school administrator to ensure that they are adequately challenged in the classroom. Because this task isn’t always easy, NAGC is committed to increasing awareness of the importance of quality gifted education programming for high-ability learners. In many ways, we all have a voice in determining how schools value and nurture students’ gifts and talents. For practical advice about getting involved and making your voice heard at all levels, visit our Advocacy Toolkit.