Many schools have focused on supporting students with disabilities, behavioral challenges, or socio-economic struggles, but have largely neglected the needs of academically gifted students. Over the past 15 years, gifted programs have been reduced or eliminated, with the trend accelerating in 2021, partly due to a heightened awareness of racial disparities. Schools were found to be less likely to identify Black and Latino students as gifted compared to white and Asian students. Additionally, the original purpose of gifted programs, which was to serve students with exceptional abilities, became blurred as such programs were often seen as status symbols. The focus shifted from nurturing gifted students to providing advantages for high achievers, which led to a loss of the programs’ intended goals.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-11-18/special-education-schools-gifted
