September 21, 2004

A Nation Deceived - or - No Bright Child Left Behind

Very interesting and informative (and strongly titled) report out of the University of Iowa, A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America’s Brightest Students is intended to clear the air and dispel many myths surrounding the practice of acceleration

From the executive summary:

Students who are moved ahead tend to be more ambitious, and they earn graduate degrees at higher rates than other students. Interviewed years later, an overwhelming majority of accelerated students say that acceleration was an excellent experience for them. Accelerated students feel academically challenged and socially accepted, and they do not fall prey to the boredom that plagues many highly capable students who are forced to follow the curriculum for their age-peers.

Volume One of the report [PDF] provides a great overview of the issues and outcomes, as well as suggesting strategies for helping children to reach their full potential.

The report also makes the case that a child prevented from excelling is also a child left behind.