Gifted students deserve an education that fits their needs, argues Brandon Wright on Fordham's Advance newsletter.
Acceleration and ability grouping are politically unpopular, but there's a lot of evidence they help students realize their potential -- and "there seemed to be little downside for medium- and low-achieving students, and often an upside."
In addition, enrichment programs also have "generally positive results," he writes.
"There’s a misguided push" to eliminate programs for gifted students because the top students don't match district demographics, notes Wright.
However, capable students from disadvantaged backgrounds need advanced learning the most and are the least likely to get it. Often, they're stuck in classrooms in which novice teachers focus their energies on low achievers and there are few opportunities to excel.
Many think smart students "will be fine" on their own, writes Addison Whitmer in the Deseret News. But “the ‘gifted’ kids aren’t all right.”