NPR has been run a three-part series on how “gifted” English Language Learners, particularly Latinos, are overlooked for admittance into advanced classes in schools.

Of course, that’s no surprise to most of us — it’s common that even many teachers confuse not speaking English with not being intelligent. It’s great that this problem is finally getting some public attention.

We’re lucky at our school that some of us who also teach English Language Learner classes also teach courses in the International Baccalaureate program so, for instance, I recruited four of my ELL students for my IB Theory of Knowledge class this year and have twelve slated to attend next year.

Here’s an excerpt from today’s NPR story in the series, Why Gifted Latinos Are Often Overlooked And Underserved:

Three-million-school

Here are their previous stories:

The Rare District That Recognizes Gifted Latino Students

Gifted, But Still Learning English, Many Bright Students Get Overlooked