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CTD History and Mission

Embracing Talent Development Then and Now

Young boy student in front of wall painting

Our Mission

Center for Talent Development (CTD) at Northwestern University is dedicated to helping academically talented students, age 4 through grade 12, realize their full potential. Through assessment, advanced enrichment, and accelerated programs, CTD’s unique Pathways approach helps students develop the knowledge and skills they need to become bold, creative achievers and contributors. The Pathways approach allows students to focus on a particular subject or explore different fields and interest areas. CTD offers programming at every grade level, as well as resources for parents to support their children’s growth and services for educators and schools to promote best practices and supplement local offerings.

"At Center for Talent Development, we believe giftedness is not a trait, like your eye color or fingerprint, but rather a process--a journey--that involves developing potential into achievement."

- Paula Olszewski-Kubilius, Former Director, Center for Talent Development
 

Students and a Teacher in a Computer Lab

CTD’s Role in Gifted Education

CTD’s primary function has been to provide excellent programs for students, their families, and educators, but we have also pushed the conversation to be about the broader issue of talent development. In our research, we have explored the role of outside-of-school programming in the talent development process. We’ve tried to understand what supplemental programs offer children, what the benefits are, and how to make them more available to more children. The thing that distinguishes CTD is our combination of application and research. All of our programs are evaluated and examined in the larger context of developing talent.

"I think the Center has made major contributions to research and development in the field of gifted education, especially with respect to what constitutes quality programs for highly gifted students." - Joyce VanTassel-Baska, Founding Director, Center for Talent Development

A History of Success

Program Milestones

Take a look back at the unfolding of our programs and the evolution of the programs today. A strong foundation has resulted in a flourishing future.

numats ceremony crowd

1982

Joyce VanTassel-Baska starts the Midwest Talent Search Project (MTS) at Northwestern University. This above-grade-level assessment program transitions to Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS), serving over 25,000 annually at its peak. LetterLinks, a distance education program that became Gifted LearningLinks and is now CTD Online, also begins.
summer program black and white from 1983

1983

The Summer Program is launched, providing enrichment and accelerated courses and a residential experience for students on Northwestern University's Evanston campus. 

1994

CTD receives accreditation from the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. This recognition of CTD as a supplemental school of exceptional quality also allows CTD to offer high school credit for its courses.
three girls in apron at kitchen

1999

The Civic Education Project comes to CTD, encouraging gifted students to work toward solving social issues, develop leadership skills, and explore careers in public service.
middle school girl on computer

2002

CTD's Gifted LearningLinks, now CTD Online, completes the transition from LetterLinks mail correspondence courses to fully online courses.

2009

CTD added to its weekend programming, introducing the Accelerated Weekend Experience (AWE), which are hosted independently by CTD or in collaboration with schools, districts, or educational organizations.

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