ABSTRACT
The United States has a greater percentage of children born into poverty than any other developed country in the world—one out of every five children. Significant numbers of children and adolescents are born into poverty worldwide. High-scoring students are considered gifted and recommended for programs and services. Giftedness, therefore, is associated with a test score in practice, if not philosophically. Low-income promising learners can be identified through traditional test scores, but many of them are overlooked. The advantage of the use of extended and alternative systems is that they provide the opportunity for more students to be served. Parents can and do play an important role in the development of opportunities for talented children regardless of family income. The mother provided a rich literacy environment for her son and two younger siblings, engaged in learning discussions at home, and readily involved herself at school.
