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Period: 100 to
Ancient Greece, China & the Renaissance
580-618 CE: China's Tang Dynasty educated child prodigies at the imperial court. 427-347 BCE: Plato established a free school for intellectually gifted young men and women. The Renaissance marked the rebirth of all forms of arts and education. Gifted and talented artists, architects, poets, authors, singers, and many more received both private and public patronage, allowing them the freedom to explore and grow their talents. (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
The Birth of Gifted Education in the Public School System
William Harris, superintendant of St. Louis, MIssouri public schools institutes gifted education. (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
Sir Francis Galton conducts intellectual ability tests
From 1888 to 1894, Sir Francis Galton tested over 7500 individuals to measure natural intellectual ability. He determined that if a parent exhibits abilities or behaviors that are outside the norm, then so will their children. He believe that society should be improved through selective breeding of "gifted" and "capable" people, a movement he called eugenics. (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
Binet-Simon Intelligence Test Introduced
The first successful intelligence test, widely accepted by the psychology community, is introduced. The test was created by French psychologist Alfred Binet and his student Theodore Simon. (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
Stanford-Binet (IQ) Test is adapted from the Binet-Simon
Lewis Terman, a psychologist at Stanford University adapted the Stanford-Binet test. Still in use today, it is a cognitive ability and intelligence test that is used to diagnos developmental or cognitive deficencies in young children. The test measures knowledge, quantitative reasoning, visual-spatial processing, working memory, and fluid reasoning. (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
Leta Hollingworth runs a class with a student-centered curriculum
A colleague of Lewis Terman, Leta Hollingworth believed that while hereditary did play a vital role in intelligence (nature) that home life and school also played an important role (nurture). She begins the Special Opportunity Class at P.S. 165 for gifted students where the curriculum was comprised of studen-led lessons and exploration. (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
First textbook on gifted education published
Leta Hollingworth publishes Gifted Children: Their Nature and Nurture. (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
National Association for Gifted Children established
Ann Isaacs founded the National Association for Gifted Children in the United Kingdom as a non-profit charity. Publishes "Gifted Child Quarterly" (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
Russia launches Sputnik
Russia's launch into space exploration placed immediate emphasis on the need for America's best and brightest to be well educated. As a result, Congress passes the National Defense Education Act in 1958 which allowed $1 billion to fund science, math, and technology in public education. (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
Marland Report - First official definition of giftedness
The Marland Report to Congress is the first national report on gifted education. Among its findings: "Gifted and Talented children are, in fact, deprived and can suffer psychological damage and permanent impairment of their abilities to function well which is equal to or greater than the similar deprivation suffered by any other population with special needs served by the Office of Education." (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
Office of Gifted and Talented created in the US government
Given official status under the Department of Education and awarded $2.5 million in funding. (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
A Nation at Risk
An 18-month long study of secondary education students is published. The report highlights America's brightest students and their failure to compete with their internationl counterparts. (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act Passed
Part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Javits Act established grants for colleges, states, and districts that focus on underrepresented populations of gifted students for program implementation. (Colangelo & Davis, 1991) -
US Department of Education issues report outlining how America neglects its most talented youth
National Excellence : The Case for Developing America's Talent is released by the US Department of Education. The report made many recommendations that shaped the further development of gifted education. (Colangelo & Davis, 2004) -
No Child Left Behind Act is passed
Passed as the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Javits program. The definition of gifted and talented students is modified again: Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities. (Goodkin, 2005) -
A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America's Brightest Students is published
A national research-based report on acceleration strategies for advanced learners is published by the Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa. (Colangelo, Assouline, & Gross, 2004)
