On Tuesday, Gov. Tim Kaine directed the state Department of Education to study the low number of minority students in gifted education programs.

This comes after statistics by school divisions show African-American and Hispanic students have disproportionately low numbers in those programs.

For example, African-American students make up 26 percent of the statewide school population, but only 12 percent of students in gifted programs.

For Hispanic students, those numbers are nine percent and five percent.

Harrisonburg City Schools reflect similar numbers as the state.

Krista Hogan, with Harrisonburg City Schools, says, when deciding who should enroll in gifted programs, a student's background should be taken into account, such as possible language barriers and family background.

"Lack of diversity has been a problem with gifted education for decades. It is not a new thing and it's been something Virginia's looked at off and on and other school divisions have looked at. With the diversity in Harrisonburg, it's important that all of our programs represent the population that we serve," says Hogan, director of Exceptional Student Services.

Hogan adds that making a difference in the numbers should begin at the local level to really make an impact.

The education department's study will be complete by spring.