By zero sum game I mean that at the end of a given period (2 yrs.) the students have been exposed to no more content than without the "gifted" program. One year's gain is zeroed out by the next year loss in the same subject matter.

Thanks for your perspective. As I plan to take this to the school administration I'd like to have SOME idea as to the logic behind their approach. I would like to think that there must be some logic there.