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"Hereditary Genius"
Francis Galton publishes the book, "Hereditary Genius" claiming that intelligence is passed down genetically through generations. He concluded, based on studying over 400 british men from history, that intelligence was derived from heredity and natural selection.
Full text of book available here. -
William Torrey Harris
William Torrey Harris was the superintendent of public schools for St. Louis, andinstituted the earliest systematic efforts in public schools to educate gifted students.
His radical new system allowed students to advance every 5 weeks based on academic performance. This promotion schedule allowed for rapid movement through the curriculum.
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First School for the Gifted
Worcester, Massachusetts opened the first special school for gifted children, pulling high ability students from throughout the region in grades 7, 8, and 9.
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Binet-Simon Test of Intelligence
Electronic version of Binet and Simon's book on "The Development of Intelligence in Children"Two french researchers develop an assessment to measure intelligence as a person's mental age. The intended purpose was to separate below average intelligence children from the general population. These tests are called the Binet-Simon tests. -
IQ test brough to America
Henry Goddard visits France and examines Binet and Simon's intelligence test. He brings it back to America and translates it into English.
He also believed that individuals of subnormal intelligence should be sexually sterilized to prevent the spread of low intelligence.
The Birth of American Intelligence Testing -
Lewis Terman
The Vexing Legacy of Lewis Terman</a>Lewis Terman, often called the father of gifted educaation, publishes the Stanford-Binet IQ test in the United States, transforming intelligence testing in the U.S.
<a href='http://https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=40678' > -
Longitudinal Study of Gifted Individuals Begins
Lewis Terman begins the longest study of gifted children ever undertaken with a sample of 1,500 gifted children.
The Truth About the Termites -
"Gifted Children: The Nature and Nurture"
Leta Hollingworth publishes what is considered to be the first gifted education textbook. Full text of the book -
Speyer School
Hollingworth establishes P. S. 500, the Speyer School, for gifted children ages 7-9. A school opened in 2009 with the goal of recreating the focus of the original Speyer School: accelerated learners .
Speyer Legacy School -
National Science Foundation Act
National Science Foundation Act creates fund for math and science education programs, spurring advanced educational options for students across the country.
More information about NSFA -
NAGC
Ann Isaacs leads the founding of the National Association for Gifted Children, a major leader still today in gifted education.
NAGC -
Sputnik
The launch of the Russian satellite, Sputnik, prompts the United States to pour massive amounts of money into the identification and education of gifted and talented learners in math, science and technology.
History of Sputnik -
National Defense Education Act
In response to the Russian launch of Sputnik, the federal government, led by President Eisenhower, signed into effect the National Defense Education Act which directed resources, funding and attention in part to gifted education.
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Public Law 94-142
Public Law 94-142 The Education for all Handicapped Children Act establishes a federal mandate to serve children with special education needs, but does not include children with gifts and talents. -
A Nation at Risk
A Nation at Risk highlights the fact that America’s brightest students fail to compete with the brightest in other countries. The report includes policies and practices in gifted education, raising academic standards, and promoting appropriate curriculum for gifted learners.
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Javits Act
Read More HereCongress passes the Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act as part of the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This is the only federal program dedicated specifically to gifted students. Unfortunately, it does not provide for any funding of gifted programs. -
National Excellence: The Case for Developing America's Talent
National Excellence : The Case for Developing America's Talent, issued by the U.S. Department of Education, outlines how America neglects its most talented youth. The report also makes a number of recommendations influencing the last decade of research in the field of gifted education. - [See more here.](http:// http://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/gifted-education-us/brief-history-gifted-and-talented-education#sthash.s5aZwws9.dpuf)
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NAGC Standards for Gifted Education
NAGC publishes Pre-K-Grade 12 Gifted Program Standards to provide guidance in seven key areas for programs serving gifted and talented students. The standards were revised in 2010 as Pre-K-Grade 12 Gifted Programming Standards.
See more here.
Read the Standards -
No Child Left Behind
No Child Left Behind is published into law and now includes the Javit's act. It also updates the national definition of gifted children: "Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities." -
A Nation Deceived
A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America’s Brightest Students, a national research-based report on acceleration strategies for advanced learners is published by the Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa.
Read it Yourself
