Ohio's public schools are frittering away a precious natural resource by failing to provide services to many gifted students. That is simply unacceptable in a state that desperately needs a well-educated home-grown work force to boost its economy and remain competitive.

Ohio must join the 31 states that require school districts to provide education geared to gifted students.

Ohio Department of Education Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman says she is considering changes to improve public schools' services to gifted children.

Good, because the colossal failure to educate the best and the brightest is evident from the numbers. In 2006-07, Ohio tagged almost 290,000 students as gifted, but only 75,496 actually got special classes, a drop-off since 2003-04, according to reporting by The Plain Dealer's Jennifer Gonzalez.

Constrained by tight budgets and the need to help all students pass basic achievement tests, too many Ohio school districts decide that education of the gifted isn't a high priority. But it should be.

Smart students, just like any other children, need teachers and classes that will help them make the most of their abilities.

The fact that gifted youngsters might be able to fly higher and faster than others is no reason to clip their wings. This isn't elitism - as long as the school tries its best to identify and serve all gifted children - this is public education at its best.

The Cleveland schools realize that. They are rebuilding the highly respected Major Work program, an enrichment program for gifted youngsters.

Such programs have a dual benefit. In addition to their direct service to students who learn quickly, they can help build strong parental loyalty, which schools in poor cities and weakened inner-ring suburbs really need.