Evaluating Gifted Programs

Program evaluation is one of the few areas in gifted education that considers the coherence among gifted education program components across the K-12 spectrum. It increases the visibility of the gifted program while acknowledging the fluidity of change in a given context and engages individuals in influencing the nature and degree of changes that can occur within their system. Two key questions in the gifted field are: To what degree do these programs make a difference in the lives of gifted children? How do we know they are working? Program evaluation is a solid and necessary step in answering these questions. Program evaluation is necessary to drive gifted program improvement. This chapter provides the rationale and literature review on gifted program evaluation as well as research-based protocols for facilitating gifted program evaluations and the commensurate processes for ensuring quality, transparency, and comprehensiveness.