Educator Perceptions Following Changes in Gifted Education Policy

• In Event: Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development Roundtable 1

Abstract

Policy changes are an ever-present part of education. In 2019, legislators upended over two decades of gifted education policy in Texas with the removal of direct funding for gifted education. In its wake, the removal of funding shook educator morale and created uncertainty as to the future of gifted education in the state. In this paper, we report on a survey administered to gifted education educators in Texas. A descriptive
framework in conjunction with Bayesian analysis and multiple
imputations is used to analyze the survey results. Our findings provide
evidence that though educator sentiment is largely negative towards the
changes to gifted education in Texas, educator outlooks on the future of
gifted education in the state is relatively high.

Authors

• Jaret Hodges, University of North Texas

• Rachel U Mun, University of North Texas

• Javetta Jones-Roberson, Birdville ISD/ Texas A&M University-Commerce

• Charles Flemister, University of North Texas