National Survey of Identification Practices in Gifted and Talented Education

Abstract

This paper describes the results of a national survey of identification practices in the field of gifted and talented education. The survey was conducted by the Educational Improvement Center-South under a contract from the U.S. Office of the Gifted and Talented. Teachers of the gifted, university professors, state consultants, and others were queried as to what constitutes the most frequently and effectively used tests/instruments/techniques in the identification process vis-à-vis the categories of the federal definition and certain subpopulations. Survey data is analyzed for existent and recurrent patterns and trends. Among the findings disclosed are abuses of standardized testing and other inappropriate practices, apparent confusion over the definition of giftedness, and Jack of understanding regarding what should and should not be used for identification under each category.