Americans comprised 16.7% of students in general education but only 9.9% of students in gifted programs, and Latino students 22.3% of general education but only 15.4% of gifted programs. In a majority of gifted programs, the first step is referral from a teacher. However, few teachers are trained in identification and thus rely on academic metrics, a metric some argue is biased towards White students due to systemic inequities in intelligence assessment. A significant majority of states use some form of standardized or aptitude test. African American, Latino and Indigenous students consistently perform lower on these exams due to a variety of cultural and institutional reasons. Numerous potential solutions have been proposed and tried with varying degrees of success and continuation. Implicit biases and cultural differences contribute to the mis-categorization or oversight of African American, Latino and other students of color. Furthermore, universal testing and screening of students raises the representation of minority students but can face significant resource constraints. However, theories of multiple intelligence have also now led to calls for removal of IQ tests as a standard metric of giftedness. IQ tests prioritize a set binary of intelligence factors which often discounts experiential and contextual expressions. Attempts to lessen racial inequality in programs of academic acceleration and gifted education continue in experiments across the United States. Academic Acceleration Policies The Acceleration Institute includes a section on state policies relevant to acceleration. The document, Developing Academic Acceleration Policies, helps schools and school districts develop fair and equitable acceleration policies. Illinois state policy specifically permits acceleration. Minnesota state policy specifically permits acceleration. Ohio state policy specifically permits acceleration. Wisconsin state policy specifically permits acceleration. References Works cited External links Acceleration Institute, provided by the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center. A Nation Empowered: Evidence Trumps the Excuses Holding Back America's Brightest Students. Parent Tip Sheet on Acceleration, provided by the National Association for Gifted Children Gifted education