The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, one of New Jersey's largest suburban districts, announced it will terminate its Academically Independent program for gifted students in grades 2 through 4, effective from the 2026-27 school year. Superintendent Robert Beers stated that all students in kindergarten through fifth grade will receive daily enrichment and expanded instruction in science and social studies. Gifted students will still have access to additional programming within their neighborhood schools, including cluster grouping and small-group investigations.

The Academically Independent program, in place since the mid-1970s, currently serves 67 students at Hamilton Primary School. The decision has sparked significant parental dissent, with an online petition amassing over 315 signatures advocating for the program's continuation. Critics, including school board member Jeremy Li, argue that the changes will detrimentally affect high-achieving students and reflect a misguided ideological shift towards collectivism.

The school district expects to save $512,000 annually by eliminating six bus routes associated with the program. Beers emphasized that while budgetary considerations played a role, the primary driver was the observed decline in participation among eligible students. He noted that two-thirds of current middle school students receiving Gifted and Talented services did not participate in the program during their earlier grades. New Jersey law mandates services for gifted students but does not require a specific curriculum, allowing districts flexibility in their approach.