Increasing Access and Opportunity
Increasing Access and Opportunity
The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) advocates that all children have equitable opportunities and support to develop their gifts and talents and realize their full potential. The association supports instruction that provides rigor and challenge so that the strengths and talents of all students are nurtured and developed, and advocates for expanding programs and services that support all students with advanced abilities.
Early enrichment and talent development programs close opportunity gaps. Advanced students may have strengths in some areas but not others, may experience opportunity gaps, or may have concurrent disabilities; hence, proactive methods are needed to identify every single student who would benefit from advanced learner services. NAGC supports policies that enhance access to these programs, improve the quality of these programs, and provide for equitably identifying every single student that would benefit from advanced learner services, regardless of background, including:
- Early universal screening in the elementary grades with additional opportunities before middle school to respond to children’s differing developmental trajectories, along with multiple opportunities for entry into advanced academic services.
- Use of the most appropriate assessment criteria that are responsive to the local context, to identify all students with advanced abilities who would benefit from advanced academic services.
- Ensuring that all pre-service and in-service teachers, including current general education and gifted specialists, have access to and participate in professional preparation opportunities to effectively teach gifted and talented students and all learners with advanced abilities.
- Establishing a clearly articulated continuum of K-12 advanced academic services to support the needs of all students with advanced abilities.
Approved by the Board of Directors
July 2025
