ABSTRACT
The advanced academic model is concerned solely with the education of students in schools. The chapter argues that the goals of gifted and talented education are the same as those of any advanced academics program: to assure that all students learn, are appropriately challenged, and have their academic needs met in school. Because of its narrow focus on academic skills taught in the schools, there are aspects of the advanced academics model with which many gifted education proponents might disagree. A study by Engel, Claessens, and Finch using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study found that 95% of kindergarteners entered school having mastered concepts such as identifying some one-digit numbers, recognizing geometric shapes, and counting up to 10. The goal of advanced academic programs and services is to try to bring all students’ academic needs into line with the curriculum and instruction they are receiving in school.
