How to Find Gifted Students

"We believe there are gifted children in all those populations, " Puttcamp said. "We tried to find a way to better find those children." Ten students were identified at the beginning of the program. Now 135 students are in gifted classes because of the program. State and national experts on the gifted say there are ways to cast a wider net for children without watering down accelerated programs. Those options include interim programs for children who show potential but need extra help before joining a gifted program. "Throwing out the traditional IQ test altogether may be an overreaction, " said David Welch, director of gifted programs for Missouri. "Such tests find certain types of gifted kids. What is a better approach is to look for additional ways to find the other kids." Jordan Loggins' mother, Cassandra Loggins, works as a nurse at Rockwood's LaSalle Springs Middle School in Chesterfield. She would like to see more minority children tested for gifted programs. She said minority students -- and their parents -- must be encouraged not to hide giftedness. Jordan said, "People should be proud of what they have, of being smart."

; Of The Post-Dispatch, SOME MINORITY GIFTED STUDENTS MISS OUT, EXPERTS SAY. , St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 12-03-2000, pp A1.

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