ABSTRACT
To better understand the priorities of many gifted programs, it is important to first understand the needs of the students whom they serve. Given their advanced intellectual abilities, it seems natural that gifted students may have a higher academic achievement as compared to mainstream peers in their age group. Yet, advocates of gifted education believe that specialized programs are necessary to nurture gifted students so that they may reach their full potential. Selection criteria and entrance requirements of the gifted program resulted in a more homogenous population as compared to the mainstream education program. In the gifted program, the curriculum was enriched to go beyond what was covered in mainstream programs. Participants described how the mainstream curriculum was covered at a faster pace. This left teachers extra time that could be used for academic enrichment. Participants shared that teachers in the gifted program had a positive impact on their learning.
