JANUARY 23, 2012
Program 9:00 to 10:30
The Columbia Room
The Legislative Building.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
The Governor has proclaimed January 23rd as Gifted Education Day in Washington. Join us in support of this important event.
If you have been reading the newspapers the last few day, you know that there was a suit (McCleary v. State) about adequacy of state basic education funding before the state supreme court. That decision was handed down Thursday and was a major victory for the plaintiffs. The full decision can be found at http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/?fa=opinions.
In this decision are several items of interest and importance to supporters of appropriate educational opportunities for highly capable students.
• The court found that the new definition of basic education in ESHB 2261 is part of a comprehensive reform acceptable to the court in fulfillment of prior court orders. The inclusion of HCP in this definition is mentioned in several places.
• The court is going to retain jurisdiction over the case to ensure that the provisions of 2261 are fully implemented by the school year 2018, as set out in the law.
• The court reaffirms that “programs and offerings that fall within the legislature’s definition of ‘basic education’ are considered nondiscretionary and must be funded regardless of budgetary constraints.” ” State-level funding for ‘basic education’ is not subject to debate, even in times of budget shortfalls.” (Page 18)
• Unless the Legislature choses to change the definition of basic education (and the decision says such a change “must be accompanied by an educational policy rationale; the legislature may not eliminate an offering from the basic education program for reasons unrelated to educational policy, such as fiscal crisis or mere expediency,” page 54) HCP has a “safe harbor.” We are no longer at extreme risk every budget cycle.
Presented by Richard M. Cash, Ph.D.
As gifted children move into adolescence, motivating and engaging them in learning becomes more complex and complicated. In many cases this perceived lack of motivation and/or engagement may be due to the students’ deficit in the academic strategies of self-regulation to learn independently. It is essential that parents and teacher assist students in developing the skills of self-regulation, including planning, organizing and meta-cognition. This session will offer suggestions as to how to develop self-regulated learners and ideas of how to encourage autonomous learning.
Are we surrounded by too many words, the wrong words, unintelligible words? Dan Roam thinks so. He joins us to discuss his new book, “BLAH, BLAH, BLAH: What To Do When Words Don’t Work.”
(KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio. A service of the University of Washington.)
Gifted Education Day is an annual event scheduled by the Coalition for Gifted Education. CPA has participating for many years bringing families to Olympia for Gifted Ed Day to tour the Capitol, meet with Legislators, and meet other parent groups for gifted education from around the state. As you may be aware, the Washington legislature has gone back into Special Session to continue the cut the budget. Once we see the results of the Special Session we will draft specific talking points with the help of the Coalition.
If you plan to attend please open the Family GED 2012 Form, print, complete, and return along with and any payment due for Gifted Ed. Day t-shirts to your child’s teacher or the CPA box in the Terrace Park Office by Monday, January 9th. Please note: this form is for Family GED, 4th Graders will be receiving forms for their field trip from their teacher.
Have questions about this event please check our FAQ page. If you would like additional information on this event, please attend our CPA General Meeting Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at 6:30 pm. Thank you.
9:30 am — Arrive Olympia
9:30 am–10:30 am — Legislator Meetings
10:30 am–noon — Capitol Tours (limited space)
Noon — Lunch
1:00 pm — Group Photo on Capitol steps
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm — Legislator Meetings
What is GED?
GED stands for Gifted Education Day. The day is scheduled to have supporters from all over Washington state advocate in Olympia for gifted education in Washington State.
When is GED?
Monday, January 23rd, 2012. The Washington Coalition for Gifted Education schedules GED.
Who goes?
CPA organizes a Family GED for families in the highly capable programs at Terrace Park and Brier Terrace.
Why Advocate?
We advocate to educate the legislators that every child deserves to learn every day; that includes gifted students. Through advocacy the Washington Coalition for Gifted Education has succeeded in adding gifted education to the definition of basic education. We continue to advocate to push for adequate funding and standards in gifted education.
What is the 4th Grade Field Trip?
In conjunction with 4th grade social studies curriculum on Washington State, the 4th grade challenge classes will be taking a field trip to Olympia on GED. Ginger Everhart ( ginger.everhart@comcast.net ) is leading the 4th grade field trip and more information will be coming home. They will need chaperones as in all field trips.
What is Family GED?
CPA organizes Family GED to Olympia. Families caravan to Olympia to tour the capital and meet with legislators. Family GED is for Terrace Park Challenge students in Grades 1-3, 5-6 and Brier Terrace Highly Capable Students Grades 7-8.
My student wants to attend but I can’t?
CPA can not accept unattended children at Family GED. You may have your student attend with another family but you are responsible for making the arrangements.
Is this an excused absence?
Yes! The principals at Terrace Park and BTMS will excuse any students attending GED with their family including siblings not in the highly capable program.You must still contact your school and report your child’s absence.
I can’t go. Is there anything else I can do?
YES! You can write letters or email your state representatives. CPA will keep you informed on the most vital talking points for this correspondence.
Do I have to buy a T-Shirt?
We wear purple T-shirts with a Wolf print on them for GED. This identifies us as a group as we move around the capitol. We have used the same T-shirt for several years so you can reuse yours from last year. This year the T-shirts are available for $9and will be here in January. You can also wear any purple shirt or come as you are as the T-shirt is not required.
How do I get more information?
You can attend the CPA meeting on Jan. 12th at 6:30pm, or email Tina Raghu, CPA President at gatiraghu@frontier.com.
Presented by Joy L. Navan, Ph.D.
These are existential questions asked by many gifted children with deep spiritual concerns. In this SENGinar, Dr. Navan ponders these questions and their impact on our children, and presents several dimensions of spiritual giftedness, including a review of research in the field. Through interactive sharing and case studies of spiritually gifted children, she engages attendees in a discussion of ways that parents and educators can recognize, honor, and respond to spiritual facets of gifted children.
Date: Dec. 15th, 2011
Roots of Empathy is a phenomenal program begun in Canada years ago and is now spreading around the world. This will be a fabulous (free!) talk.
Presented by Kathleen D. Crombie, M.Ed.
It is common for gifted children and adults to have many projects in various stages, numerous collections, high expectations and shifting interests or areas of passion. Overwhelmed with your stuff? This SENGinar focuses on meeting the unique organizational needs of gifted families and shows how to use gifted characteristics for optimal functioning and productivity, whether at home, school or work. Learn routines that will allow gifted children and adults, including those with ADD, to get and to stay organized.
An important issue in the implementation of Highly Capable into basic education is professional development of all teachers who work with these students in any setting. Whitworth University has long been the only institution in the state to offer both a bachelor and masters program in gifted education. And at the heart of this program has been Margo Long. Her years of dedication have been honored with the establishment of The Margo Long Endowed Chair in Gifted Education. All of us who have had the privilege of working with Margo over the years send our respect and wishes for a happy retirement.