Equity
“Do the best you can until you know better.
Then when you know better, do better.”
~ Maya Angelou
As our nation faces the grave consequences of long standing and systemic racism, the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted remains committed to equity and justice for all. As an organization, we are cognizant of the inequities in identification and educational programming for gifted students of color. We remain committed to examining these inequities, and rectifying these inequities. We pledge to do our part to dismantle structural and institutional racism. We invite partnerships with other institutions, groups, and individuals to share conversations about the impacts of race, and will work to listen, learn, and support each other in this critical process of changing our world.
Board of Directors, Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted (June 2020)
Resources for Closing the Excellence Gap & Advancing Equity in Gifted Education
Explore a collection of research, articles, and strategies aimed at ensuring equitable access to gifted education for all students with potential, gifts, and talents. These resources address systemic barriers, highlight best practices, and provide actionable insights for educators, policymakers, and advocates.
Key theories and recommendations from School Psychology Forum (2016) on assessing Black and Hispanic students for gifted programs.
America's Gifted Education Programs have a Race Problem - Can it be Fixed?
A deep dive from NBC News and the Hechinger Report on racial disparities in gifted education.
A Strategy for Overcoming Equity Issues in Gifted Programs
Edutopia explores how universal screening can help level the playing field.
Gifted Education
A compilation of Education Week articles on gifted education (2019–2021).
Gifted Education Done Right Benefits
A Fordham Institute article explaining how high-quality gifted programs support Black and Hispanic students.
Hoagies: Multi-cultural Gifted Learners
A wealth of resources on culturally and linguistically diverse gifted students.
Hoagies: Specialized Populations/Gender Issues in Gifted
Articles exploring gender differences in gifted identification and support.
How a School District Proved Gifted Programs Can Be Racially Diverse
A Hechinger Report feature on a Chicago-area school district's success.
How to Increase Access to Gifted Programs for Low-Income and Black and Latino children
A 2019 article by Wai & Worrell with targeted recommendations.
Is There A Gifted Gap?
A Fordham Institute report (2018) analyzing gifted education in high-poverty schools.
Multicultural Issues
Donna Ford discusses equity vs. equality in student recruitment and retention.
NAGC Statement on Social Justice
The National Association for Gifted Children's stance on equity in gifted education.
NYC DOE: To Curb Racial Segregation, Brooklyn School Axes Gifted Track
A USA Today (2020) report on gifted program eliminations and their impact.
Oklahoma's Identification Of Gifted Native Students Could Serve As A National Model
A NPR feature on an innovative approach to equitable gifted identification.
Remaking Gifted and Talented - Wisconsin School News - October 2021
A 2021 Wisconsin School News article for school board members on equity in gifted programs.
Stop Eliminating Gifted Programs and Calling it 'Equity'
A Teach for America perspective by Colin Seale.
Teacher's Race May Contribute to the Gifted-and-Talented Gap Between White and Black Students
The Atlantic (2016) on the importance of diverse educators in gifted programs.
The Challenges of Achieving Equity Within Public School Gifted and Talented Programs
A Gifted Child Quarterly (2021) study by Scott Peters on barriers and solutions.
The Evidence Base for Advanced Learning Programs
Phi Delta Kappan article on the most research-supported gifted education strategies.
The Racial-Justice War On Merit-Based Schools: It's an Injustice Against Excellence, Critics Say
An analysis on selective school admissions and equity concerns.
Where Are Gifted Students of Color?
A Learning Professional (2018) article on using case studies to improve identification and support.
Why Are There So Few Students of Color in Gifted Education?
A Psychology Today (2018) interview with Donna Ford offering personal and professional insights.
"Who Did This for You?"
At first glance, this question appears innocent. For example, if a person asks this question, "I need to paint my house; who did this for you?" you would answer without hesitation.
However, when the question challenges a person's intellectual competence, the same question may take on nefarious qualities. For example, if a person asks this question, "Who did this for you?" it could imply that you couldn't do it for yourself. It belittles your work.
In this thought-provoking presentation, Who Did This For You?, (recorded at WATG's 2020 Virtual Conference), Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings asks us to question our underlying assumptions about talent, identification, and resource allocation. Most importantly, she asks us to check ourselves, and ask ourselves, "Are we asking the right questions?"
Our words matter.
Maria Katsoras-Molzahn and Justice for All Task Force
