Failing Our Brightest Kids

"The best book on gifted education I have ever encountered."--Jay Mathews, Washington Post "All of us need these talented individuals, and to cultivate them we should examine how other countries do it. The bulk of Failing Our Brightest Kids does precisely that...The profiles are informative, and they offer school officials examples to follow and the rhetoric to justify them."--Mark Bauerlein, Education Next "From the very outset, the authors wade unflinchingly into turbulent waters of identifying gifted students from disadvantaged backgrounds, while holding aloft the flag for our nation's high flyers. No fife and drums were needed to herald the advance of their ideas; their words march forth on their own."--Kumar Singam, Examiner "What is society's responsibility vis-a-vis children who excel in school? Finn and Wright (both, Thomas B. Fordham Institute) do a brilliant job of tackling this thorny question through the lens of policy. This volume leaves readers--be they scholars, parents, or policy makers--with a deep understanding of what it will take to address the special needs of under-served, high-achieving students in the US and bring their talents to fruition."--R. F. Subotnik, CHOICE Connect

Chester E. Finn, Jr, is a distinguished senior fellow and president emeritus at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, and a senior fellow at Stanfords Hoover Institution, USA. Brandon L. Wright is a managing editor and policy associate at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, USA.

Acknowledgments Introduction PART I The Challenge of EducatingHigh-Ability Children Educating Smart Kids: Why Bother? How Is the United States Doing? How Disagreement Holds Us Back How the System Slows Us Down Will Differentiation Move Us Forward? PART II Beyond Our Borders How Do Other Countries Educate Smart Kids? Japan: Early Neglect, Later Intensity Singapore: Enough of a Good Thing? Korea: Too Much Pressure? Taiwan: Do as We Say, Not as We Do Finland: Not Quite as Advertised Germany: Differentiating Without Differences Hungary: Much Talk, Less Action Switzerland: Decentralized to Excess? England: Sifting Through the Policy Rubble Ontario: How Special Is Gifted? Western Australia: In for the Long Haul PART III Toward the Future What Have We Learned? Moves America Should Make Afterword Appendix Notes About the Authors Index