Recruiting and Retaining Culturally Different Students in Gifted Education 1st Edition

Dr. Ford’s book puts a magnifying glass to the problem of under-representation among black and Hispanic students in the country’s gifted programs. She pulls no punches when she says that educators need to reconsider and revise their current identification tools as well as their mindset. The book provides a fresh take on academic-heavy prose, since Ford’s obvious passion at times jumps from the pages. She boldly addresses discriminating practices and test bias, which she claims are a few of the major causes for fewer black and Hispanic students being referred and placed into gifted programs. Ford skillfully backs up her claims with personal anecdotes and case studies, for instance, such as the school district that uses separate classes for gifted Hispanic students and has virtually no black students in its gifted programs. Rather than simply critique these educational shortcomings, Ford provides solutions, such as revising teacher recommendation checklists to better reflect culture among the black community and using multiple assessment methods rather than relying too heavily on intellectual tests. Declaring that educators need to be “culturally responsive,” Ford offers formulas for establishing equity for these minority groups within gifted education. Whether you agree with all of Ford’s theories and claims, this book is eye-opening and should be required reading for all teachers, school psychologists and others, who serve as the “gatekeepers” for children entering gifted programs.

A must read!

I have read many of Dr. Ford's books and articles, and have interviewed her numerous times. Her new book represents her strongest scholarship on the subject of cultural diversity, acceleration, and gifted education. It also features compelling case studies, practical advice, and, especially features Dr. Ford's fierce advocacy. See our previous interviews with Dr. Ford at avid.org, including our recent radio interview.She is a powerhouse scholar!Rob GiraExec VP, AVID Center