Welcome Guest | | Register

| Contact Us

Place an Ad | Advertise With Us | Manage your subscription online

11 Connects | Bristol Herald Courier | DaytimeTriCities | Award-winning coverage | SwVaToday.com

NewsNews

Va to look at gifted programs, minority numbers

By: Associated Press | TriCities.com
Published: November 18, 2009

» Comments | Post a Comment

Gov. Tim Kaine is directing the education department to study the low number of minority students in gifted education programs in Virginia.

The governor's actions Tuesday follow the release of statistics by school divisions that show African-American and Hispanic students have disproportionately low numbers in those programs. African-American students, for example, make up 26 percent of the statewide school population, but only 12 percent of students in gifted programs. For Hispanic students, the numbers are 9 percent and 5 percent.

Kaine said it's important to examine any "barriers to enrollment" among black and Hispanic students.

The study will be completed by next spring.