Gifted Education Commons^™

A Regional Multimethod Study On The Impact Of Identification Practices For Diverse Populations In Academically Gifted Programs During The 2022-2025 Aig Plan Implementation, Stephanie G. Revis

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Historically, many North Carolina Local Education Agencies (LEAs) have not prioritized diversity in Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) programs, and local control over funding and policies has led to wide variations in how identification and services are implemented. As a result, persistent equity gaps exist between the proportion of culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse (CLED) students in the overall population and their representation in AIG programs. The purpose of this study was to examine identification practices implemented by LEAs and determine their impact on the Relative Difference in Composition Index (RDCI), as well as to identify which practices contribute to …

Equity In Gifted Education: Examining District Practices And Strategies To Identify Underrepresented Students Through Renzulli's Three-Ring Conception Of Giftedness, Kenneth M. Jackson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods study explored the effectiveness of a large South Carolina school district’s gifted identification practices, with particular attention to how well these practices support the identification of students from underrepresented populations. Framed by Renzulli’s (1978) Three-Ring Conception of Giftedness, the research investigated the extent to which the district’s procedures identify students using the model’s core indicators: above-average ability, creativity, and task commitment. Seven district practitioners, including teachers and administrators, participated in quantitative surveys, follow-up qualitative interviews, and a focus group. Findings revealed significant concerns about the overreliance on standardized academic measures, the exclusion of creativity and task commitment …

Exploring School Leaders' Perceptions Of Gifted Education Educator And Gifted Program Evaluation, Rachel Louise Geesa, Krista M. Stith

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

In an effort to better support the needs of PK-12 students identified as gifted or high-ability, school leaders need to be familiar and comfortable with supporting gifted education educators and developing and evaluating gifted education programs. Gifted education educators should have defined roles and responsibilities, and school leaders need to be prepared to effectively evaluate gifted education educators. In this mixed-methods study, we explored pre-service and in-service school leaders’ perceptions of evaluation of gifted education programs or gifted education educators through responses from one anonymous survey with 36 respondents and one optional, confidential interview with seven participants. The findings from …

Systemic Bias In Public Education: The Exception Of African American Males Enrolled In Gifted And Advanced Placement Courses, Luther Johnson Edd, Karen H. Larwin Phd

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

This study aims to examine the representation of African American males in AP, honors, and gifted courses in secondary education. The current investigation represents a causal-comparative investigation of 2017-2020 school district data from a large metropolitan school district regarding the number of African American males selected for inclusion in gifted and/or AP studies. This study's significance is to bring to the forefront a systemic practice within public schools, which has served to permanently deny African American males their ability to achieve academically at their level. Findings support that there is a lack of African American students currently enrolled in advanced …

A Quantitative Study On The Effectiveness Of A Rural Magnet School Versus An Urban School Magnet Program In Academic Success And Stakeholder Satisfaction, Shayera Whitfield

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Research studies has indicated there is a correlation with magnet school curriculum being the cause of an increase in student achievement, high levels of student motivation, and satisfaction with morale as well as an increase in the number of parents satisfied with the school. However, according to Gamoran (1996), there have only been studies examining the academic achievement of magnet school students to non-magnet school students. This research study was designed to determine the effectiveness of a magnet school program in a rural and urban school district on the academic performance of students in reading and math as well as …

Examination Of Aig Teachers’ Cogat Test Preparation Practices In One North Carolina School District, Charlton Kurt Hiatt

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods study focused on gifted education screening practices in North Carolina. Specific focus was on the practice of universal screenings using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) and test preparation measures conducted by one school district. The study collected and analyzed data from regular elementary education and elementary AIG teachers regarding test preparation lessons and materials. The study then narrowed to interview participants to further examine the lessons. This study found that both sets of teachers agreed that test preparation for students was necessary to increase equity and address the persistence of underrepresented subgroups identified as AIG in LEA-1. …

Fast Track To Excellence: Impact Of English I Acceleration On Gifted Learners' Academic Achievement And Course Selection At The Secondary Level, Camey Whitt

Education Dissertations and Projects

Academic acceleration, sometimes referred to as “appropriate developmental placement” (Lubinski & Benbow, 2000, p. 138), is a differentiation practice providing academically gifted students with opportunities to learn curriculum more quickly. The research study was a mixed method experimental design where the evaluator examined two dependent variables in the study: academic performance and scheduling choices of academically gifted students. The independent variable was the intervention put into place for academically gifted students at the middle school: accelerated English I. The study compared AIG students who accelerated the English I class with those who did not in order to isolate whether or …

Who Is Selected To Participate In Gifted And Talented Programs In A Small Southeastern School District?, Kancy Cleveland

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study describes a descriptive quantitative study and a binomial logistic regression model that looked at a total population versus academically gifted and talented population in Grades 3-6 in a small southeastern school district. Both populations were examined through the independent variables classified as age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status was determined by if a student’s lunch was full pay, reduced pay, or free. The dependent variable was whether each student was identified as academically gifted and talented or not academically gifted and talented. Do the two different populations (total versus gifted) evenly or equally represent age, gender, and …

Nurturing Potential: The Impact Of Talent Development On Underrepresented Gifted Populations, Sara Newell

Education Dissertations and Projects

Data on gifted education show a clear problem: lack of diversity in gifted education programs. This fact is compounded by additional data showing a disparaging difference in achievement of Caucasian versus minority students. Together, these concepts are referred to as the excellence gap in gifted education. Talent development, or the location and nurturing of potential talent in underrepresented populations, has been recommended in the gifted community as a possible step in resolving these inequities (Ellis & Martin, 2017; Ford, 2010; National Association of Gifted Children [NAGC], 2015; Reinhard, 2016; Thornbury, 2010).

Through an explanatory mixed methods study, this research analyzed …

Program Changes For Gifted Students And The Impact On Collaborative Efficacy, Trevor J. Putnam

Education Dissertations and Projects

Research suggests that academically gifted students are often underserved when it comes to the school setting. Academically gifted students require specialized instruction to challenge them. Several successful strategies exist for creating an educational environment that appropriately challenges and helps these students achieve academic growth; however, these strategies are rarely employed due to a lack of accountability, supports, or these students’ ability to make passing scores on state assessments.

The school chosen for this study came out of analysis of state growth numbers for academically gifted students. Analysis revealed that while gifted students of this school were meeting proficiency standards on …

Middle School Teacher Perspectives Toward Classroom Practices And Groupings Of Academically Gifted Students, Bethany Settlemyre

Education Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-method research study was designed to examine middle school teacher perspectives toward the classroom practices and groupings of academically gifted students. The Classroom Practices Questionnaire (Archambault et al., 1993) was used to survey middle school teachers on their use of instructional strategies with gifted students. Focus groups were then held to gain insight on teacher perceptions of differentiation practices for gifted students and homogenous and heterogeneous groupings of gifted students.

An analysis of the data revealed that teachers held positive perceptions of teaching AIG students. Data also revealed that teachers believe that homogenous groupings are more beneficial for AIG …

Providing Access To Content Using Technology To Engage All Learners, Karrissa Ebert, Cynthia Hutchings, Pamela Edwards, Mabel Eliana Lamprea

Instructional Modules for Professional learning Responding to Opportunities and Valuing Educators (IMPROVE)

The purpose of this module is to provide access to research and tools which can be used to differentiate lessons in a classroom for all types of learners. First, the module helps educators understand TPACK as well as why using technology with students is effective. Next, the module delineates the research and tools into 4 categories of learning, which allows educators to learn/ teach using tools specific for different learners. The module concludes by encouraging educators to practice using the tools with a group of learners and a content specific standard.

View professional learning module.

What Do Parents Really Want? Parent Perspectives On Gifted Education, Ryan Mccreary

Education Dissertations and Projects

In this research study, the correlation between the strategies that previous research had indicated as effective for gifted education and the programming sought by parents of gifted children was examined. Survey results and interviews with parents revealed several strategies that parents wanted to be implemented in gifted education as well as powerful practices that would enhance gifted education if implemented by school leaders. The problem of underachievement among gifted students is also discussed as well as strategies to reverse it.

Investigation Of Teacher Perceptions Of Gifted Education: How Teacher Perceptions Influence The Use Of Specific Research-Based Teaching Strategies Tailored To Challenge Learning In Ag Students, Ian Robert Olsen

Education Dissertations and Projects

The research study examined teacher perceptions of gifted instruction. It focused on teacher perceptions of the needs of gifted students; teacher confidence in adapting instruction to meet the needs; and teacher perceptions of which research-based instructional strategies are best implemented. The purpose of this study was to determine if AG teacher perceptions of instructional strategies influence the implementation of them. This study combined literature research, survey data, and interview data all shedding light on the need to improve academic instruction for all AG students (Bangel, Moon, & Capobianco, 2010; Manning, 2006; McKinsey & Co., 2009). The research and data demonstrated …

Gifted Education And National Standards: A K--5 Program Evaluation, Debra A. Harwell-Braun

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to conduct a program evaluation of a K-5 Gifted Education Program. Program evaluation addressed how well the gifted education program studied met the National Association of Gifted Children standards. In addition, this study included stakeholder perceptions of the current gifted education program K-5.

This program evaluation utilized the Accreditation Approach as well as the Logic Model for program planning and evaluation. Instruments used included surveys, interview groups, and classroom observations. Review of district evidence to address the standards was completed.

Analyses of the data by geographical region of the district studied provided minimal differences …