Examining Identification Practices and Services for Young Advanced and Gifted Learners in Selected North Carolina School Districts

Because schools often do not begin formal processes to identify students with gifts and talents until the third grade, many kindergarten through second-grade teachers face challenges in identifying and meeting the needs of these learners. We examined gifted education plans from a sample of seven districts in and around the Charlotte, North Carolina, region to learn how these districts address gifted or advanced learners in kindergarten, first, and second grades in their policies. We summarize the content and range of these policies, and recommend that effective approaches should include universal screening, early identification (i.e., in kindergarten), and the use of additional pathways to identification and differentiated educational services to meet the needs of young advanced learners. We conclude with recommendations for future study in this underinvestigated area.