I am greatly concerned about  the underrepresentation of minority students in gifted education.  I am a black student who attended Virginia public schools most of my life.   Although I excelled in school I was never recommended for the gifted and talented program, nor were my black friends.  

I graduated from Brooke Point High School in Stafford, Virginia. In Stafford Public Schools:  African American students are 21% of the student enrollment but only 7% of students receiving gifted education services.  Caucasian students are 64% of the student enrollment, yet 83% of students receiving gifted education services.

I believe the regulations governing gifted and talented education should provide better guidance to school divisions on the criteria, standards, or requirements for the administration and regulation of gifted programs in school divisions which have established different levels of gifted services.  I also believe the Board of Education should address the underrepresentation of minority students in gifted and talented programs.