D.C. turned to the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM), used in more than 4,000 schools nationwide, and internationally. Joseph Renzulli and Sally Reis, professors at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, created their model to help diversify accelerated classes and gifted programs by encouraging school systems to broaden their concept of giftedness and ferret out student potential beyond what’s measured by standardized tests. The method assesses qualities such as motivation, curiosity, empathy, creativity and self-regulation, and exposes young students to a wide range of enriching experiences to discover what excites them.

  When the telephone rang in Joseph Renzulli’s office one day last summer, and the voice on the other end asked if he would take a call from Terry McGraw, the Neag professor’s first reaction was, “Who’s Terry McGraw?” Not only is McGraw the chairman, president and chief executive officer of The McGraw-Hill Companies, he […]