Perceptions Of Giftedness And Other Factors Impacting The Gifted Identification Of Black Students In A Small, Rural School District

The disproportionality of Black students identified as gifted has been a hot topic of discussion in the field of education for decades. If the purpose of education is to maximize the potential of all learners, then educators are missing the mark. Although multiple factors may impact the gifted identification of Black students, one of the biggest conundrums in the field of gifted education—the process of gifted identification—may stem from the lack of common definitions of intelligence and giftedness. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ perception of giftedness and other factors that may be impacting the gifted identification of Black students in a small, rural school district. This comparative descriptive research design examined the role teachers play within the gifted identification process by analyzing the following data gathered from three elementary schools: teacher perception of giftedness, teacher perception of the gifted identification process, and teacher perception of factors that may provide a more equitable gifted identification process. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric data analysis were used to analyze and compare quantitative survey results. In vivo coding and inductive thematic analysis were used to analyze qualitative data from open-ended survey items and interviews. Key findings were reported to division leadership and recommendations for increasing the number of Black students identified as gifted were provided. To ensure equitable access to appropriate education for all students, especially those who have been historically underrepresented, continuous improvement of the gifted identification process through planning and policy is integral for the progression of society.