The Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act (Javits) is the only federal program that specifically addresses the needs of gifted and talented children. The Act was passed in 1988 to support the development of talent in U.S. schools. The Javits Act does not fund local gifted education programs. The purpose of the Javits Act, which was reauthorized as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in 2001, is to orchestrate a coordinated program of scientifically based research, demonstration projects, innovative strategies, and similar activities that build and enhance the ability of elementary and secondary schools to meet the special educational needs of gifted and talented students.
The Javits Act focuses resources on identifying and serving students who are traditionally under-represented in gifted and talented programs, particularly economically disadvantaged, limited English proficient, and disabled students, to help reduce gaps in achievement and to encourage the establishment of equal educational opportunities for all U.S. students. Click here to read about some of the ways in which the Javits program is making a difference for students from the underrepresented populations.
No single educational program can meet the needs of all students, and so exploration and innovation are needed to tap the potential of diverse populations of gifted students. The Javits Act authorizes the U.S. Department of Education to make competitive grants for demonstration programs that develop and expand models serving students who are under-represented in gifted and talented programs. Grants are awarded to state and local education agencies, institutions of higher education, and other public and private agencies and organizations.
Click here to read an article (.pdf) in NEA TODAY describing a Javits demonstration grant in action.
In 2001, Congress expanded the Javits Act to create a competitive grants program for state agencies and school districts to implement programs that would enhance gifted education offerings statewide. The goal of these competitive statewide grants is to support state and district efforts to improve services for gifted students, train teachers, and develop program evaluation strategies that will advance services for students with high potential. State grants are available only in a year where the funding level for the Javits program exceeds $7.5 million.
2002 - 2005 grants
Javits funded grants have had demonstrated results in improving student learning. Some of the grants focused on developing identification instruments that increase the numbers of low-income and minroity student participation in gifted education programs and services, other grants focused on demonstrating that gifted education strategies can help all students make learning gains, and others on the connection between specific kinds of teacher training and student learning. Click here to read more about the positive outcomes of a number of the Javits grants projects.
National Research Center
The Javits program also funds the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. The Center was established to provide a forum for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and others to work together to design and conduct research and ensure that it informs educational policy and practice. The Center is located at the University of Connecticut and is run collaboratively with the University of Virginia. The consortium includes over 300 public and private school districts, and a consultant bank of 167 researchers associated with 86 universities throughout the United States and Canada. Research and dissemination efforts associated with the Javits Act have resulted in new information about the effective use and benefits of several instructional strategies including curriculum compacting, instructional grouping, acceleration, and independent study.
For more information about the research and other information available from the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented, visit the Center's website.
For more information about the Javits grants, visit the U.S. Department of Education.
Visit NAGC's legislative update page for more information about the Javits program and other legislative issues.