HATTIESBURG -- The Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi is currently conducting a study to determine best practices in screening, identifying and instructing gifted/at-risk youth in the state. Understanding the best ways of identifying and serving potentially gifted/at-risk students may help secure appropriate educational experiences for all young children.

Training workshops are being planned to raise awareness of giftedness among at-risk youth. Four sessions will be conducted throughout the state by researchers from the Center to share information gathered from the study with administrators, educators and parents. Training events have been scheduled in the following cities:

• Hattiesburg – Wednesday, March 8, 2006 (8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)
• Columbus - Friday, March 10, 2006 (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.)
• Jackson – Thursday, March 23, 2006 (8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)
• Biloxi – Tuesday, March 28, 2006 (8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)

For more information and to register for the complimentary conference, contact The Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies at 601.266.5236 or 601.266.5246 or

e-mail gifted.studies@usm.edu.