The Center for Talented Youth has been using “talent searches” since the 1970s as a way to identify and reward academically exceptional young students. The “talent search” idea was originated by Dr. Julian Stanley, a psychology professor at the Johns Hopkins University in 1972. Since then, the Center for Talented Youth has identified nearly 1 million students and has served over 100,000 students through its programs.

Typically, the students who will participate with Cogito.org represent one in ten thousand. That means they achieve a score of 700 in the SAT’s at the age of 12. Each year the Center for Talented Youth identifies 300 kids who score at this level. Other talent search organizations identify the same number of students. However, sky high SAT scores are not the only criteria for participation in Cogito.org. “We didn’t just want to use test scores as a way into the program,” says Blackburn. “Some students don’t test as well as others. The program is looking for bright kids, but also kids who have a passion and desire to pursue their interest at a high level.” Some of the students asked to participate will be identified through achievement rather than raw test scores.

To better identify students who would benefit from participating with the Cogito.org website, The Center for Talented Youth is partnering with eight organizations, including: Carnegie Mellon’s Institute for Talented Elementary and Secondary Students, Duke University’s Talent Identification Program, Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development, University of Denver’s Rocky Mountain Talent Search and University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank Center. Additionally, three nonprofit organizations that serve pre-college students that have distinguished themselves through science or mathematics projects or activities are also taking part. They are the Center for Excellence in Education, the Davidson Institute for Talent Identification and Science Service.

“What I’m most excited about is that we can’t anticipate how kids will use this website,” says Blackburn. “They’ll set up partnerships and activities through the site that are wholly their own initiative. It’s also exciting to have a place to have adults come in and talk to this eager and very bright audience.”

Click here for the eight organizations that partnered with The Center for Talented Youth

www.cogito.org