Gifted Law, Identification, and Programming in Mexico: An Overview for School Professionals in the United States

The demographics in the United States are rapidly changing and the school-aged population is growing at an even faster rate, particularly within the Mexican population. In 2008, 12.7 million Mexican immigrants lived in the United States which is 17 times the number in 1970. In addition, Mexican populations are younger than other U.S. populations which directly impacts school systems and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. This article provides an overview of various concepts, frameworks, and services used by the Mexican education system that pertain to the gifted population. In particular, the topics covered are the Mexican education laws pertaining to gifted education, gifted identification practices, gifted programming strategies, and implications for practice with Mexican populations in the United States. To better address the underrepresentation of Mexican students in U.S. gifted education programs, a more thorough understanding of these constructs is warranted.