Identifying Gifted and Talented Students in an Alternative Learning Center

Abstract

This study determined the percentage of students enrolled in a high school alternative learning center who were potentially gifted and talented. Alternative learning centers are designed for disruptive, disaffected youth who cannot or will not function in the regular high school setting. Scores in the top 5 % on the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test and/or the IBRIC Biographical Inventory academic, creative, artistic, and leadership sub-tests, as well as nominations by teachers and peers were used to identify potentially gifted and talented students from among 93 11th and 12th grade alternative learning center students. Eight (8%) of the 93 students were identified as potentially gifted and talented.