A significant event that created funding for the training of school counselors to select students gifted in the math and science field is known as the:

The national defense education act was a significant legislative measure that provided funding for various educational activities, including the training of school counselors. The impetus for this act was largely tied to the United States' need to strengthen its educational programs in response to concerns about national security, particularly during the Cold War era. Recognizing the importance of developing talent in critical fields such as math and science, the act allocated resources specifically to identify and nurture students with exceptional abilities in these areas. This initiative aimed not only to bolster the country's intellectual resources but also to ensure that capable students received the support they needed to excel in fields crucial to national defense and economic competitiveness.

In contrast, the other options, while they have played important roles in education and policy, do not specifically target the training of school counselors for identifying gifted students in math and science as directly as the national defense education act does. The George-Barden act primarily focused on vocational education, No Child Left Behind emphasized educational accountability and standards across all public schools, and the School to Work Opportunities act was aimed at providing a connection between education and employment opportunities. None of these specifically addressed the funding for counselor training in the context of identifying gifted students in the math and science fields as effectively as the national defense education act.