Conclusion: Building on Past and Current Efforts to Develop Children’s Talents

As the authors in this book present their visions for the future of advanced education and talent development, they also provide concrete steps educators, school leaders, and policymakers can take to make that future a reality. These thought leaders and emerging scholars are optimistic about the world we can create for the next generation of children, their families, and our communities. However, they are also united in their message that change tomorrow requires action today.

The identification and assessment essays stress that we need to think bigger. Rather than using identification processes to limit the number of students in advanced education and talent development programs, the authors suggest expanding services to meet the needs of more children. The out-of-school essays emphasize the need to think about equity. These authors encourage us to make high-quality learning and talent development available to children of all ages by creating home-school partnerships and valuing the funds of knowledge educators, families, and community members can provide.