Understanding the Experiences of Gifted Students Living in Poverty

• In Event: 66.058 - Roundtable Session 28
  In Roundtable Session: 66.058-15 - Opportunities and Challenges for Underrepresented Gifted and Talented Students

Abstract

When examining the question of equal educational opportunity, it is critical to examine the underrepresentation of low income students in advanced coursework. This phenomenological study investigated the barriers and supports that influence high poverty gifted students’ choices of advanced coursework. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Development Model was the framework for the study. It indicates that people are influenced by those who directly interact with them as well as geographic and political systems. Three overarching themes were found. The first is the idea of expectations and relates to the microsystem and mesosystem. The second relates to the type of work and rigor of coursework. The third theme relates to the social and emotional experiences of students which relates to the exosystem and mesosystem.

Author

• Antonia Szymanski, Western Kentucky University