Enhancing Equity in Gifted Education: A Critical Content Analysis of Identifying Emergent Bilinguals in North Texas

Abstract

This study employs critical content analysis to investigate school districts’ identification process of gifted Emergent Bilinguals (EBLs) in North Texas. Despite the diverse population and significant presence of EBLs in Texas, this group is notably underrepresented in gifted programs. In order to uncover the inequities for gifted EBLs, this study examined 156 school districts’ websites in North Texas (Regions 10 and 11) to gather data. A thematic analysis approach was used to create a research-based rubric with 18 criteria for effectively identifying gifted EBLs. By specifically evaluating the random samples (34 school districts) and the commonly used identification tools in North Texas, three themes emerged from the content analysis: (a) selection process, (b) assessment, and (c) standardized assessment tools. These themes highlighted both effective practices and inequities in the identification process. The study concludes by offering recommendations for improving and creating a more equitable identification for gifted EBLs.