NAGC Statement on the Closure of Duke TIP

NAGC is deeply saddened by the announced closure of the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP). For over 40 years, Duke TIP has been one of the leading talent development programs in the country and has served over three million academically talented students in Grades 4–12. TIP’s contributions to the field of gifted and talented education have been many, and its loss will be felt by everyone concerned with talented students, their families, and their education.

With its emphasis on partnership, TIP has collaborated closely with classroom teachers, gifted coordinators, school administrators, and others to identify and serve gifted students and provide them with a variety of enrichment benefits as well as accelerated educational programs. In addition, TIP has been supporting and leading research into the educational, emotional, and social factors impacting the lives of gifted children. TIP research has helped shape the field and has been published in many venues including Gifted Child Quarterly.

Beyond its contributions to the field, TIP has been a great partner for NAGC. The association has frequently benefited from the contributions of TIP staff, and numerous NAGC leaders both past and present have been from TIP. For many years, TIP has been a sponsor of NAGC events including the annual NAGC convention and, most recently, the 2020 NAGC Leadership & Advocacy Conference LIVE!. 

NAGC expresses its solidarity with and support for the TIP staff, TIP students and families, and all those directly impacted by the program’s dissolution.

Jonathan Plucker, Ph.D.       
President                               

Lauri Kirsch, Ed.D.            
President-Elect                                                   

Sally Krisel, Ph.D.                                                
Past President    

Keri Guilbault, Ed.D.
Treasurer

Dina Brulles, Ph.D.
Governance Secretary

John Segota, MPS, CAE
Executive Director