Are gifted and talented programs elitist - for the pompous, highbrows, social climbers or the bookish, brainy, cerebral? Are all specialized programs for elitists?

As with any enacted program, rationales for government and state funding are to assist every learner whether the child is learning disabled, gifted, or mainstreamed learner.

So, are gifted and talented education (GATE) programs exclusive, for the elitist?

The Gifted and Talented Education program in most states supports unique opportunities for high-achieving as well as underachieving pupils who are identified as gifted and talented. By California's definition, gifted students are pupils who possess a capacity for excellence far beyond that of their chronological peers. This capacity includes many and varied characteristics requiring modifications of curriculum and instruction. These modifications form the basis of gifted and talented educational services.

The U.S. Department of Education specifies the purpose of grant money for GATE programs, which is to carry out scientifically-based, research projects designed to build and enhance abilities of students while meeting the special education needs of GATE students. More importantly, The U.S. Department of Education highlights the major emphasis the priority - of the GATE program is to serve traditionally underrepresented students, particularly economically disadvantaged, limited English proficient, and disabled students in order to help reduce the serious gap in achievement among certain groups of students at the highest levels of achievement.

School must implement innovative programs; and schools must carry out coordinated, scientific research-based projects in order to obtain and maintain funding. This involves grant writing, grand coordinators, school committees, district dissemination of funds to implement and accomplish effective GATE programs. Performance levels must be noted. Implementation of the program must follow guidelines i.e. demonstration of serving traditionally underrepresented students, particularly economically disadvantaged, limited English proficient, and disabled students (all students). Assessments must be completed. Data must be compiled and submitted for governmental review of effectiveness of GATE programs. Funds do not continue if all of these requirements are not met.

GATE programs are for students who are gifted and talented yet may not have had educational opportunities based on socio-economic status, limited English, or disabling abilities. Thus, GATE programs provide model projects such as, summer mentoring, service learning, and programs involving community agencies.

GATE programs must provide challenging, high-level course work, use technology to provide rigorous coursework if the school is not capable of providing such services; therefore, the GATE program is providing the gifted and talented students with opportunities that they are lacking within their home and/or educational environment. These connections enhance the students' learning to enhance those gifted and talented qualities.

The GATE programs is a specialized plan of action to particularly assist economically disadvantaged students, limited English Proficient students, and disabled students who may have been overlooked or have "fallen between the cracks," but possess gifted and talented qualities. So are GATE programs elitist? Not according to these facts.

Learn more about this author, Lili Melton Ph.D..
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