Giving Gifted Students a Voice - A Proposal to Extend United States Education Policy Allowing Students to Challenge the Appropriateness of their Education*

The legislatures and the courts of the United Stateshave historically deferred to local education authorities inmaking decisions concerning the proper method to provideeducation to students. Unfortunately, this deference appears tobe misplaced with regards to the education of gifted students.Research shows that these students fail to perform at the levelcommiserate with their potential and face a variety ofpsychosocial challenges associated with their intellectual ability.The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act provides atemplate for procedural rights that should be extended to theparents of gifted children. Giving parents the right to participatein the educational planning for their children and an independentarbiter to mediate disputes will provide them with the toolsnecessary to ensure the receipt of an appropriate education