English Language Learner KnowledgeBase for Administrators & Teachers

ELLs in Gifted and Talented Programs

These resources were created to increase the number of ELLs in the gifted/talented programs.

Identifying and Nurturing Talents for All Students

This document reviews the difficulties associated with identifying high-ability language minority students for gifted programs.

OCR PAR Issues Brochure - Special Opportunity Programs

This document contains the special opportunities section from the OCR Region VII office's Profile, Assessment, and Resolution (PAR) Region pilot project. The brochure provides guidance on special opportunity programs for ELL students.

OCR Self-Assessment Guide - Special Education Programs

This guide is part of a OCR Region VII pilot program to encourage partnership approaches to civil rights compliance. It assists school systems to voluntarily comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 regarding equal educational opportunities for national origin minority students who are English language learners. This section covers special education programs.

Alternate format: PDF

OERI Self-Assessment Guide - Gifted Programs

This resource provides a self-evaluation tool to assess where a district and its schools fall on a continuum of awareness and actions as related to ELL students with outstanding abilities and gifted education. Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) is currently known as the Institute of Education Sciences. 

Alternate format: PDF

High Ability Learners and ELL Students

Each state may have information available regarding gifted and talented learners. This document provides access to those materials.

Identifying and Nurturing the Gifted Poor

This article discusses how traditional selection processes often overlook children of poverty for gifted and talented programs.

National Association for Gifted Children

As noted at its website, "The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) is an organization of parents, teachers, educators, other professionals, and community leaders who unite to address the unique needs of children and youth with demonstrated gifts and talents as well as those children who may be able to develop their talent potential with appropriate educational experiences."

Programs for English Language Learners - Other District Programs

This document from the Office for Civil Rights offers guidance on establishing programs for English language learners. This reference addresses equal access for ELL students to the full range of district programs, including special education, Title I, gifted and talented programs, and nonacademic and extracurricular activities.

Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)

As noted at its website, "SENG brings attention to the unique emotional needs of gifted children. It provides adults with guidance, information, resources, and a forum to communicate about raising and educating gifted children."

Identifying and Supporting Gifted ELLs

This Edutopia website states English language learners (ELLs) have historically been underrepresented and underserved in U.S. gifted and talented (GT) programs. To move the needle in a more promising direction, we can begin by asking ourselves how we can increase the visibility of diverse learners in GT screening. What does equity look like in identifying language learners for gifted services? And how can we actively improve culturally responsive supports for exceptional ELLs in our classrooms?