High Ability and Talent Development in Latin America : Contexts, Challenges, and Innovations

This book offers the first comprehensive, research-based examination of giftedness and talent development across Latin America. Drawing on decades of scholarship, it situates high ability within the region’s complex educational, cultural, and socio-economic landscapes. Through a culturally responsive lens, the volume explores conceptual frameworks of giftedness, national policies, and pedagogical practices, while addressing systemic inequities and underrepresentation. Chapters analyze identification processes, curriculum innovations, and teacher training, alongside critical issues such as twice-exceptional learners, mental health, and the invisibility of indigenous, rural, and migrant talent. Rich case studies from countries including Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina illustrate both persistent challenges and promising practices. The book culminates in a proposed Latin American model of talent development, integrating psychological, sociocultural, and educational dimensions. By amplifying voices and data from the Global South, High Ability and Talent Development in Latin America: Contexts, Challenges, and Innovations contributes to international discourses on gifted education, educational equity, and social justice. It is an essential resource for psychologists, educators, policymakers, and researchers seeking evidence-based strategies for nurturing high-ability learners in diverse and under-resourced contexts.