Understanding the political issues and the debate surrounding the education of gifted students is based on the recognition that education policy (including rules, regulations, financial allocations, etc.) reflects social policy. Therefore, defining and examining the way that social policy influences education policy is the first step in understanding the politics of education: “Social policy creates the rules and standards by which scarce resources are allocated to meet almost unlimited social needs.” (Gallagher, 2002, p. l). Focusing on the “scarce” resources component of this definition directs our attention to the very real fact that not all desirable actions can be taken before our resources run out. Hence, society prioritizes needs so that the most important of these are dealt with first and the most critical needs are addressed before resources are expended. In establishing policy that governs decisions in the realm of educating gifted students, social policy should answer the following questions:
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James J. Gallagher (2015) studied this question.
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