5 Steps Toward Better Serving Culturally, Linguistically, & Economically Diverse Students

Educators, administrators, and experts in the field of education came together last Saturday in a summit dedicated to better serving underrepresented gifted students. The summit, held in partnership with Center for Talent Development, the Illinois Association for Gifted Children, and Illinois School District U-46, covered ground ranging from equitable identification of students to culturally responsive practices.

“Otherness is a heavy weight to carry,” noted presenter April Wells. The challenges for students are wide reaching but are often overlooked. For example, a student from a low-income family may gain access to a specialized academic program but struggle with transportation getting there. Educators must pay attention because significant excellence gaps exist: Low-income and minority students are much less likely to reach advanced levels of proficiency than their white and more affluent peers., The differences are often perpetuated by “belief gaps,” which are internalized by students and may be perpetuated by educators. For a closer examination of the figures and the issues in addressing underserved gifted populations, view the presenters’ slides from the summit [link].

So what can we do to support equity and access? Here are just a few takeaways offered up by the presenters: