This week, Education Dive took a look at the difficulty schools and districts have in identifying gifted and talented students from underserved populations. It's a matter that is only compounded by the lack of a clear definition of "giftedness" across states or local education agencies, as well as a lack of national requirements guiding how gifted programs are operated.

Meanwhile in higher ed, we examined the billions that President Barack Obama's final budget proposal suggests giving to higher ed. While much of it is likely to be rejected by the Republican-controlled Congress, a handful of initiatives could find bipartisan support.

Additionally, Gallup is preparing its own higher ed rating system that could turn US News' popular-but-controversial lists and others on their heads, and University of Phoenix owner Apollo Education is set to go private in a $1.1 billion sale.

Be sure to check out our spotlight on Hollins University President Nancy Gray and more in this week's most-read Education Dive posts!

• Identifying gifted and talented students with equity proves difficult: Without a clear definition, districts in many states struggle to best serve 'giftedness' — particularly among English learners and students of color.
• Gallup to give US News rankings more competition: Gallup plans to rank colleges based on the 'well-being' of their graduates in a new system that could further weaken the US News rankings and their controversial metrics.
• Obama's final budget proposal would send billions to higher ed: While there are plenty of positives for higher ed in Obama's 2017 budget proposal, many of the programs and initiatives are sure to die at the hands of the Republican-controlled Congress.
• Apollo Education Group to go private in $1.1B sale: The owner of for-profit college chain University of Phoenix will be taken private in a cash sale to a group of investors, which worries some — though they say they want to clean up the industry.
• Eduvation Spotlight: Hollins U's President Gray raises women's college's profile: Now in her 12th year, Nancy Gray has found success using alumnae engagement, strong internship programs, and campus traditions to empower her student body.

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