Facts about Gifted & Talented Students
In the United States, it's the US Department of Education (ED) that sets the pace for education across the nation. The ED doesn't require each state to follow its guidelines or recommendations but it does require each state to provide educational opportunities to its children that meet or exceed that sanctioned by the federal government.
At this time, there are no federally mandated standards for meeting the educational needs of the nation's gifted & talented students. There are federal regulations pertaining to the educational requirements for children with special needs that are not considered gifted & talented. In fact, these special educational programs are designated for only those students who struggle academically or for whom the traditional educational process is difficult, such as when a child is ill, injured, or limited physically or mentally in some capacity.
In public school systems where special classes are available for gifted & talented students, they are doing so under the approval and guidance of the state's department of education. Because each state places value on special education for gifted & talented students, the programs vary from state to state. Some states allow no provisions whatsoever for these students.
Even when a state sanctions programs for gifted & talented students, the requirement is often provisional. Smaller schools, which would theoretically have a very small number of eligible students to enroll, may opt out of the specialized educational programs in lieu of other programs that are likely to benefit a larger proportion of the student body.
It's also understood that smaller school districts have less budgetary discretion to establish any programs geared especially for gifted & talented students. Specialized study materials and specially trained schoolteachers are expenses that add to the school's financial obligations, often making specialized programs beyond budgetary means.
Larger cities, where there are more kids enrolled in school, are more likely to offer gifted & talented education programs. Even though the ratio of gifted students to average students remains about the same, roughly 2:98, the 2% represented by the gifted & talented students numbers more individual students in need of such programs.