Thanks everyone for your input. These are my views:
1. Streaming within a cohort that is already appropriately accelerated on a subject by subject basis is ideal. Streaming is a fine-tuning adjustment, not a gross adjustment. Offer cross-grade grouping with a compacted curriculum in as many subjects as possible to allow for the greatest adaptability to individual needs across subjects. Gifted children (all children, really!) should be supported in developing in the ZPD.
2. Enrichment is inadequate, particularly where basic skills objectives have been met. In fields with a nonlinear pattern of progress across grades, there is a strong argument for compaction to expose students to breadth and depth. In more structured fields, acceleration isn't inconsistent with progressing through the appropriate foundational skills.
3. Ruf's work suggests HG+ children are capable of completing the entire elementary series curriculum in (IIRC) ~ 1 year. Preventing gifted students from accelerating to achieve their potential deprives them of valuable learning opportunities-- academic, meta cognitive, and socioemotional. These effects are best supported in an accelerated, congregated setting of true peers. For many gifted students, more than 2-3 years of subject acceleration will be required.
