KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knox County Board of Education unanimously approved the first reading of an amended version of the district's "Gifted and Talented" program on Thursday evening.

The proposed "Advanced Learner" model would standardize the method teachers use across the district to provide extra educational opportunities for advanced learners, a district leader said. A concerned parent said the potential change surprised his family and believes the new model won't be as effective as the current one.

Keith Wilson, the assistant superintendent of academics at KCS, said district leaders have been working on the Advanced Learner plan for a while.

"Previously, most of what we did for advancement or enrichment for students who were in that program happened through more of a pull out of th

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