Trends and Changes in the National Association for Gifted Children's Special Populations Network Annual Convention Presentations, 2001-2010

This qualitative study examines the trends and changes in the National Association for Gifted Children’s (NAGC) Special Populations Network annual convention presentations from the years 2001-2010. Factors examined include demographic information about the presenters, including gender, geographic location, and workplace represented, as well as the number of presentations and their topics. This content analysis is especially important when considering talented and gifted education in public schools across the United States, and what educators learn from these convention presentations that might impact priorities regarding special populations. After analyzing ten years of Special Populations Network presentations, it becomes apparent that while there have been changes in issues of importance related to special populations in gifted education, two main subjects appear throughout: minority student integration into talented and gifted classrooms, and twice-exceptional learners.