Historically, the suppression of the academic development of gifted African American students, even those with a proven high IQ, resulted from the constraints of segregated learning environments and the generalized racist presumption of the inferiority of African Americans. The lack of federal policy regulating Gifted and Talented Education can be seen in the inconsistencies of every aspect of this work from identification to outcomes.
Currently, over 3.3 million children are identified as gifted and talented in the United States. Yet the degree to which students are identified as mentally gifted and receive adequate programming varies dramatically from state to state, from one district to another, and based on race and socioeconomic status. Disparities in the availability and quality of Gifted and Talented Education programs along racial, socioeconomic, and geographic lines remain widespread. Though the misperception that Gifted and Talented students of any race need little support prevails, gifted students who do not have early and adequate access to gifted programming experience adverse effects.
Within the historical context of the educational system and current landscape of Gifted and Talented Education, this research sought to answer three key questions. First, where and how do racial disparities manifest themselves in Gifted Education programs across the state of Pennsylvania? Second, what factors are contributing to or driving the underrepresentation of African American students in Gifted Education in Pennsylvania? Third, what strategies are being utilized at Pennsylvania state, district, and school levels to address racial disparities in Gifted and Talented Education and meet the needs of high-potential and high-performing African American students?
To answer these questions, the researcher conducted a secondary data analysis of national, state, and district-level Gifted Education data; administered a survey and facilitated interviews with Pennsylvania school and district leaders; categorized participating schools based on best practices in the field of Gifted Education; and reviewed public artifacts including school district websites and annual Pennsylvania Gifted Education progress monitoring reports from 2017-2023.
The overarching research themes suggested that disparities in Gifted Education exist throughout the state of Pennsylvania when compared with national data on gifted students overall and, to a heightened degree, gifted African American students. Person, place, and policy-based factors were assessed to be potentially driving and/or contributing to the underrepresentation of African American students in Gifted Education. While limited strategies surfaced that have already been used and documented to neutralize racial inequities effectively in Gifted Education, sound instructional and institutional practices were shared and strategies proposed for consideration. Key barriers to meeting students’ needs, the removal of which could potentially result in significant programmatic growth, were also revealed. In addition, the school and district leaders who participated in the study universally espoused a desire to learn more about Gifted Education, gifted students, and the inequities that impact gifted programming. / Educational Leadership
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TEMPLE/oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/9503 |
| Date | 08 1900 |
| Creators | Horton, Constance Faith |
| Contributors | McGinley, Christopher W., Estrada, Armando X., Stull, Judith C., 1944-, Brooks, Wanda M., 1969- |
| Publisher | Temple University. Libraries |
| Source Sets | Temple University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation, Text |
| Format | 290 pages |
| Rights | IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | http://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/9465, Theses and Dissertations |
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