• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.649-669
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• 2013

The research deals with the changes of the laws related to gifted education focusing on the Marland Report. As result, contrary to conventional argument for the beginning of legal ground for gifted education, 1958's National Defense Education Act(P. L. 85~864) which stipulated the article for 'identification and encouragement' for 'able students' can be said the first legislation of gifted education in the level of federal government. In the case of definition of the gifted, prior to 1972's Marland Report, there was the first legal definition in the Section 806 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act(P. L. 91~230, 1970), which said "Children who have outstanding intellectual ability or creative talent". However Marland Report expanded the realm of the gifted from the area of intelligence to the area of leadership, art and psychomotor ability. On the basis of Marland Report, in 1974 the Office of Gifted and Talented was set up in the Department of Education for dealing with gifted education in federal. Further, Marland emphasized the importance of stipulating article related to funds for gifted education in law. Without manifesting funds for gifted education in law, he knew very well how hard it was to practice gifted education in reality. This implies that regulation funds for gifted education is crucial for effective actualization of gifted education.