Two of my six grandchildren are in GT programs. In the GT programs they are given a bit of enhanced time, in the form of class pullouts, to explore outside the standard classroom instruction. I’m talking about 1 - 5 hours per week. They are not segregated into separate classes. The extra cost of the programs are not much.
GTers are usually smart, but really smart kids are not necessarily tested to be GT. To get the GT label the child must demonstrate “out of the box” thinking. Most of the GTers I know about are either super bright girls who are socially well adapted to school, or boys who demonstrate enhanced ability, for their age, in math, language or science, but have trouble sitting still in a standard classroom, often being labeled with some sort of ADD, ADHD, or “High Functioning” Autism.
Our schools did away with their gifted/talented programs before my son could benefit from them. One of my nephews was in them though.
At the time the intent was to keep these kids from being bored and keep them learning and pushing themselves.
When i found out they did away with the program I started shopping at a local ‘teacher’s store’, asking them what i could do to keep my son challenged. He was spelling 3 letter words before he could talk or walk.
By the time he started kindergarten he was doing 500 piece puzzles.
He did excel in math and science and tested in the top 1% in the nation for his ACT score.
In middle school the school tried to pull a fast one and on his paperwork for high school they had some code on the form and i kept asking different people about it. Turns out it signified that he could not read. LMAO Like i mentioned earlier, they get extra funding for students that can’t read or need extra assistance.
I just didn’t understand why they didn’t use students that actually needed the help and not put something like that on a students paperwork when they were high performing students.
You have to be vigilant and watchful of the schools.