Gifted and Talented Students at Risk for Underachievement

Each day in the nation's schools, gifted and talented students are at risk for underachievementespecially if they are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds or low-socioeconomic status (SES) families. Gifted and talented students have the potential to excel academically, but often they are underachievers who fall through the cracks (Reis & McCoach, 2000). In general, gifted and talented students are a heterogeneous group that is very diverse in terms of behaviors, interests, and abilities (Lukasic, Gorski, Lea, & Culross, 1992). Although various circumstances contribute to the underachievement of gifted and talented students, the fact remains that most of these students are underserved by their schools and districts.