We can agree after all! Achieving consensus for a critical thinking component of a gifted program using the Delphi technique1

There are two main purposes for this article. First, we believe that educators, at least in a district, must agree on a common set of criteria before efforts to develop and implement a program reach the point of large expenditures for materials. This article provides a set of definitions and lists of separate critical thinking abilities that may be used by any district to move toward common criteria. Secondly, we describe the details and results of one study wherein an initial group of educators working with the gifted in one large metropolitan school district used the Delphi Technique to reach consensus on criteria for deciding what thinking skills program might be adopted or developed. In addition, because of the Delphi's ability to gather data from large numbers of colleagues within a local situation for assessment of their individual and group preferences, objectives and procedures for utilizing the Delphi Technique are included as a rational for its application in this particular situation. The statistical research is offered to illustrate as well as highlight the use of the Delphi Technique and post‐study interviews with participants are included to provide personal observations and perceptions by those who were actually involved in this study. Hopefully, this can serve as a procedural model for other districts searching for curriculum consensus on critical thinking programs.