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Binet and Simon Develop Intelligence Tests
Binet and Simon create a series of tests that could produce a single number that was supposed to be indicative of a person's intelligence. This created an assessment tool that would allow future researches to locate, study, and help gifted children. The test has been significantly improved over time, and is still significant today as many school districts still use a version of this test as an admission requirement for gifted servies. -
Terman Publishes "Genetic Studies of Genius"
This is the first major study to provide extensive information on gifted children. After studying 1,500 gifted students over 40 years, Terman concludes that gifted students are qualitatively different in school and that there was a wide variety of gifted attributes that were displayed by each gifted child. This laid the groundwork for our current gifted education model: we must differentiate for gifted students because they are qualitatively different than other students. -
Publication of "Gifted Children: Their Nature and Nurture"
Leta Hollingworth publishes "Gifted Children: Their Nature and Nurture." It is considered the first book on gifted education. Among other things, she noted that many gifted children suffer adjustment difficulties because they are bored in class. She also noted that many gifted children were left by teachers and parents to essentially raise themselves. -
National Defense Education Act
The Cold War prompts the federal government to improve the United State's math and science education. Title V includes funding for the identification of gifted students and lays the groundwork for gifted and talented programming in schools. This is significant because it established federal support for gifted education, which is an important source of funding for gifted programs today. -
Creation of the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth
Julian C. Stanley establishes the “Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth.” Stanley and his colleagues sought to identify gifted students across the nation and supply with them accelerated learning in summer programs and correspondence courses. His efforts helped to change the mentality that it is improper for young students to take advanced courses. Now acceleration is widely accepted as an important tool in gifted education. -
Creation of National Gifted Education Standards
Incredibly, it wasn’t until 2006 that the federal government created national standards for gifted education. These included standards for gifted teachers: they must know now to identify gifted students and differentiate their instruction to accommodate the students. This federal mandate is important because it will encourage all schools to create gifted programs, including those who serve lower-income and minority students.
