As gifted education educators are working diligently toward implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) leadership felt a sense of urgency to respond to the CCSS vis-a-vis gifted learners. A group of key leaders, including Georgia and GAGC's own, Gyimah Whitaker, met during the NAGC convention a few weeks ago to outline a plan of action. Through an extraordinary writing effort by a group of committed volunteer experts during the convention, a position paper, a comprehensive set of FAQs and links to MANY outstanding resources are now available; you can access these on the NAGC website, http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=8982 , both as web pages and a downloadable PDF.
The position paper and all the supporting documents acknowledge the many strengths of the CCSS and provide specific guidance in how educators can implement the new CSSS for gifted learners AND develop the gifts and talents of MANY other students. Although the CCSS are considered to be more rigorous than most current state standards, if held strictly to the standard, they fall short in meeting the specific needs of gifted learners and could actually limit learning. To overcome this potential pitfall, it is imperative that educators create a full range of supports for talent development through differentiated curriculum, instruction, and assessments that focus on students’ strengths, interests, and learning profiles.
- Information provided by Sally Krisel, Director of Innovative and Advanced Programs, Hall County School System
