Education of the Special Populations of the Gifted

The word evaluation strikes fear and anxiety in the hearts of so many. For the purpose of determining whether our efforts for gifted students are effective, program evaluation is a way of strengthening the program, not validating or invalidating what has been done. Program evaluation is the systematic study of the value and impact of services provided. The effectiveness of services to gifted students is likely to be improved if decisions about the development of all program components are guided by careful decision making based on valid and reliable evidence of what works and what does not work across all the major aspects of program operation. Hence, the most robust provisions for gifted learners will evolve from careful collection of data regarding the context in which the services are delivered, the adequacy and appropriateness of resources available, the quality of activities carried out, and finally, the degree to which goals and objectives have been achieved.