THE PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS GIFTED AND TALENTED IN MINNESOTA OPEN ENROLLMENT OPTION

The extent to which students who were identified as gifted and talente d participating in Minnesota's Open Enrollment Option was investigated Information was drawn from surveys on 26 students who were identified as gifted and talented and transferred to nonresident schools through Open Enrollment during the 1990-91 school year. Parental involvement in school before and after the transfer, reasons for transferring, and other experiences in exercising the option were studied The results w ere compared to those of students without special needs (n=60). Parent s of students with special talents moderately increased their involvem ent at their chosen school. Academic and educational concerns were som e of the main reasons that prompted these students to transfer. The mo st valuable sources of information about the option were the mass medi a and the school principal. Most parents expressed satisfaction with t he option; yet, many experienced transportation problems. Important ap plications for these findings were discussed.