ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the giftedness and explains the unique needs of the academically gifted. To fully answer this question, several different pieces of information, such as the current demographics of the gifted student population, state gifted identification polices that resulted in those demographics, and the trends that shaped the political climate that rendered those state policies, should be considered. As such, the value and differences between gifted frameworks are illustrated in the two following vignettes that contrast the Three-Ring Conception of Giftedness and the Talent Search model of giftedness. Provided this context, the following section highlights the characteristics of gifted students, which are often framed as selection criteria. The trends, which have the ability to influence gifted education's future, include changing state policies and criteria, universal screening, and innovative programs. However, the contextual changes within gifted education provide a start to trending toward a more equitable and inclusive field.
