A Model for Eliminating Excellence Gaps

Abstract

Excellence gaps are obvious across all levels of education, across all content areas, and on all academic assessments. J. A. Plucker and S. J. Peters recently reviewed existing empirical studies to identify the most promising practices for reducing excellence gaps. They generally found promising avenues but few empirically supported interventions. A benefit to universal screening is that it would make the application of local norms very easy, because data would be available on all students. In addition to benefitting high achievers over a wide range of settings, content areas, and studies, ability grouping research provides evidence of helping close excellence gaps. Excellence gaps are similar to minimal competency gaps in that they are complex and have come to be after years of unequal educational opportunities. The three keys to opportunity for advanced learning are: successful communication, belief and acceptance, and low barriers to access.