The Rare District That Recognizes Gifted Latino Students

[HuckleB]

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/03/31/472528190/the-rare-district-that-recognizes-gifted-latino-students

"Imagine you're back in school, bored to death, with limited academic options. Because you're learning English, everybody assumes you're not ready for more challenging work. What they don't realize is that you're gifted.

Researchers say this happens to lots of gifted children who arrive at school speaking little or no English. These students go unnoticed, until someone taps into their remarkable talent and potential. Vanessa Minero Leon was lucky. She was one of those students who got noticed.

...

So how does Brulles go about finding gifted kids who start school speaking little or no English? Well, she says, you start by training classroom teachers and showing them how to look for exceptionally bright students among the English language learners, or ELL, population. Then you test them. And last, but not least, you reach out to parents.

...

That's where testing for giftedness comes in. In Paradise Valley, students can test up to three times a year with a combination of nonverbal and verbal exams. Once they're identified as gifted, they're placed in classes with other gifted students in accelerated courses. The material they cover is at least two years above grade level.

..."

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NPR appears to be doing a series. Here is yesterday's piece on this topic:

Gifted, But Still Learning English, Many Bright Students Get Overlooked
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/04/11/467653193/gifted-but-still-learning-english-overlooked-underserved


Good for Paradise Valley. I hope this news helps spread such programs across the country.

[Mosby]

1. PV school district is one of the least diverse in the state

and the town of PV is one of the top three or so wealthiest cities in Maricopa County.

But, hey, it is nice for the PoC that can afford PV and Scottsdale, I know I can't.

http://www.biggestuscities.com/demographics/az/paradise-valley-unified-district

http://www.zillow.com/paradise-valley-az/

[HuckleB]

2. All that may be true, but it's still something that should be done.

Getting the word out to other districts across the country is important, still, IMO.

[Mosby]

3. absolutely.