-
History of Gifted Student Education Begins:
Since 1868 until today Gifted Education has been defined, discussed and delivered to students who qualify throughout the United States. That does not mean that there is only one definition, discussion has stopped or that all states or schools have implemented it. There is much controversy over the fact that many 'gifted' students may be left behind in their quest of learning more about how to use their 'gifts' and 'talents.' -
William Torrey Harris
Who was the superintendent of public school for St. Louis institutes the earliest systematic efforts in public school to educate gifted students. -
Francis Galton's
Seminal work, Hereditary Genius, is published indicating that intelligence was passed through successive generations. His biographical study of over 400 British men throughout history leads him to conclude through statistical methods that intelligence was derived from heredity and natural selection. -
Worchester, Massachusetts
Opened the first special school for gifted children. -
Lewis Terman , the 'father' of gifted education
Of the gifted education movement, published the Stanford-Binet, forever changing intelligence testing and the face of American Education. He also began what has remained the longest running longitudinal study of gifted children with an original sample of 1,500 gifted children in 1921. -
Leta Hollingworth publishes..
Gifted Child: Their Nature and Nurture, what is considered to be the first textbook on gifted education. -
The National Association of Gifted Children
Is founded under the leadership of Ann Isaacs. -
National Defense Education Act
Passes. This is the first large-scale effort by the federal government in gifted education. The U.S. Congress reached the conclusion that the American schools and colleges were not producing the quantity and quality of scientific and technical specialists necessary to keep pace with the Soviet Union. This diagnosis propelled Congress to pass a number of emergency measures in 1958, including the National Aeronautics and Space Act (establishing NASA) and the National Defense Education Act (NDEA). -
The Marland Report:
The first formal definition is issued encouraging schools to define giftedness broadly, along with academic and intellectual talent the definition includes leadership ability, visual and performing arts, creative or productive thinking, and psychomotor ability. [Note: psychomotor ability is excluded from subsequent revisions of the federal definition.] -
A Nation at Risk
Reports scores of America’s brightest students and their failure to compete with international counterparts. The report includes policies and practices in gifted education, raising academic standards, and promoting appropriate curriculum for gifted learners. -
NAGC Publishes:
Pre-K-Grade 12 Gifted Program Standards to provide guidance in seven key areas for programs serving gifted and talented students. The standards were revised in 2010 as Pre-K-Grade 12 Gifted Programming Standards. -
Local Teacher Teaches 52 'Gifted' Students
Mrs. Sherrie Koehler takes on classes that include 52 'Gifted' students at a local charter school. Where she aids these students in learning how to experience learning at their highest potential.
