Kate Simkowiak

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Update message and sample letters from the Washington Coalition for Gifted Education

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Sample Contact Letter

February 8, 2011 by David Berg


Parents and Friends of Highly Capable Children – We now need your help to save your child’s highly capable education for the next two school years, 2011-13.

Two proposals from the Governor would eliminate all Highly Capable Program (HCP) funding for this period. Meanwhile, the Governor has proposed increasing funds for other education programs during 2011-13. We’re asking the Legislature for equal treatment: Education programs must be funded equitably and proportionally. These are basic education dollars for highly capable students and programs.  The mistaken perception that gifted kids are all upper-class, white, hardship-free, and disability-free has created an image hurdle for us in the Legislature. If your family’s story can balance any piece of that image, please include it!

We urge you to contact your legislators by Friday, February 11 – Gifted Education Day in Olympia. Two sample letters are below.

Remember to address emails, sign your name, and add your child’s story.

Please contact:

1. Your own legislators. Find them here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

2. Senator Ed Murray, Chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee: murray.edward@leg.wa.gov

3. Senator Rosemary McAuliffe, chair of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee. mcauliffe.rosemary@leg.wa.gov

4. Jill Satran, the Governor’s deputy chief of staff. We need to push back on the Governor!jill.satran@gov.wa.gov


Thank you! Your efforts to save HCP funding for the current school year have been working – now let’s do the same for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years!

(please see post for more details)

Gifted Education Day Itinerary for Friday, February 11th

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Hello Challenge Families!

Attached in this notice is the 2011 GED Itinerary which includes:

Our finalized meeting schedule with our legislators

Driving and parking directions

Maps of the Capitol campus

Details about any tours or committee hearings happening while we’re there

2011 GED Itinerary

and

campus-map

If you are joining us, please download the packet, review it and bring it with you to Friday’s event. Also, don’t forget to wear your purple shirts. We will be taking a group photo on the Legislative steps at 11:30 a.m.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

CPA Board

Note: If your child is riding the bus with the fourth grade, you can disregard this message as the field trip students have a slightly different agenda. Thank you.


Update – Message from the Washington Coalition for Gifted Education

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This message has been sent to you by The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education. Comments or questions can be sent to wagifted@earthlink.net or grevewandi@gmail.com If you wish to have your name deleted from our mailing list, send a notice to wagifted@earthlink.net.

OUR FOCUS FOR GIFTED EDUCATION DAY AND BEYOND

The Supplemental Budget has passed both the Senate and the House but in different versions which will need to be reconciled. Since both versions provide nearly the same amount for HCP as in the original budget for the current school year, it appears that the first hurdle of this legislative session has been successfully –  well –  hurdled.

The Biennial Budget and SB 5475 lie ahead of us. The fate of SB 5475, introduced on behalf of the Governor, will be basic to the budget.

The Legislature has some important decisions as outlined below.

• Proceed with the scheduled implementation of Education Reform (ESHB 2261 and SHB 2776) and they will write one budget.

• Follow the Governor’s proposal to delay implementation of parts of Education Reform and this requires a different budget.

– Delay implementation to 2013 and the biennial budget needs to contain approximately $18 million in categorical funding for HCP at at least maintenance level. This funding is not a sure thing.

– The Governor’s proposals assume delayed implementation (SB 5475) and $0 in funding in her budget.

The Coalition Position

SB 5475

We request that the words “Beginning with the 2013-14 school year” be removed from Sec. 2 (2)(g), Section 3(10)(c), Sec. 5, and Section 6(1) of SB 5475 as these would delay inclusion of HCP in basic education until 2013.

Other sections of this bill move forward with the 2011 inclusion of the Learning Assistance Program, and the Transitional Bilingual Program into basic education

and implement the prototypical school funding formula, MSOC allocations and the new transportation formula. The QEC has linked HCP with LAP and TBL as programs that close the opportunity gap; this bill removes that linkage.

Educational reform was designed as a whole. Delaying some parts of it will upset the design and make planning difficult. It will be disruptive to districts and students. Local districts have limited funds to continue programs in a delayed implementation. It will be more expensive to reintroduce them than it would be to implement them now.

We understand that implementation cost is high and that funding in full is not likely. Better an underfunded reform than no reform. For HCP, better an underfunded mandate than no mandate. Funding can be adjusted upward as the fiscal situation improves.

Your contacts with Legislators, until further notice, should request that implementation of the new definition of basic education not be delayed beyond the scheduled date of September 2011.

Since the bill is currently in the Senate, contact with your Senators should take place first but both Senators and Representatives will need to be contacted.

The Budget for 2012-2013

If inclusion of HCP is implemented in full in 2011 we hope that some amount of Section 708 funds will be appropriated along with MSOC but have not taken a position on how much this should be. We need to see what is in the budget proposed by the Legislature. (Information on these categories of funds is in the attachment.)

If implementation is delayed (SB 5475), it is our position that we will advocate to obtain as much funding for the current categorical program (which will still exist) as we can. Again, we will signal we are willing to accept a cut but it must be proportional. The budget proposed by the Governor provides no funds for HCP (as a categorical program based on her request to delay implementation of HCP inclusion). This is not proportional.

More Information.

If you are relatively new to gifted advocacy or you just like to dig into the details, please see the (long) attached pdf file which has all the appropriate references and citations.

For those in the Seattle School District, we have attached Dr. Robert Vaughan’s statement to the Senate Ways & Means Committee on January 31 regarding SB 5475.

Event – Open House at the Robinson Center

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Dear Families, Friends, and Alumni of the Robinson Center—

You are invited to the Robinson Center Open House!

Valentine’s Day is all about love and chocolate, and the University of Washington’s Robinson Center would love to spend time with you over some delicious chocolate desserts!

In addition to enjoying the chocolate, you’ll have an opportunity to meet Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and Nancy B. Hertzog, the Robinson Center’s new director. You’ll also be able to reconnect with old friends and visit with current Robinson Center students and families.

When
Sunday, February 13, 2011, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Where
Halbert and Nancy Robinson Center for Young Scholars
University of Washington
Guthrie Annex 2
Follow this link for a map.
Complimentary parking is available in the Central Plaza Garage. Enter at 15th Avenue NE and NE 41st Street.

We look forward to this opportunity to bring together alumni, students, and families of the Robinson Center, share new initiatives, and perhaps start a Robinson Center alumni association.

Did we mention the chocolate? There will be chocolate.

RSVP via email to Sharon Walker at sharonw@uw.edu.

Senate Bill to Delay Inclusion of Highly Capable in Basic Education

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On Monday, January 31st, the Washington State Senate K-12 Education Committee will hold a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Senate Bill 5475, a recently submitted bill that includes a delay of inclusion of Highly Capable in the 2009 Education Reform Bill definition of basic education until 2013-2014. If SB5475 passes as currently written, highly capable programming would remain optional for districts to provide and vulnerable to funding cuts that basic education funds are not.

If it is possible for you to attend this meeting and make public comment on this bill, please follow these links for details on how and where to testify.

Committee Agenda and Meeting Location

How to Testify in Committee

Basic Information on Visiting the Legislature and List of Related Links

Are You Coming to Gifted Education Day 2011? Here’s How You Can Let Us Know!

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YOU ARE INVITED

Please plan now to attend Gifted Education Day in Olympia

We are all in this together! And we need you!

DATE: Friday, February 11th, 2011

TIME: 7:30 AM ~ leave Terrace Park School by carpool and/or caravan

Estimate 3:00 PM ~ leave Olympia ~ (optional, pizza dinner)

WHERE: State Capitol Building in Olympia, WA.

WHO: Parent(s), Child(ren), Teachers and Administrators of Edmonds School District Highly Capable Programs

PLEASE NOTE: If you attended the Thursday, January 6th meeting in the Commons and completed the sign-up sheets there, or have already turned in a form to the school, we have your information and you do NOT need to return this form, unless you wish to order more t-shirts. Thank you!

Please click on the Attendee form link below, print, complete, and return the form and any payment due for t-shirts to your child’s teacher or the CPA box in the Terrace Park Office by Monday, January 31st.

You may also email the requested information to challengeparents@gmail.com.

Attendee form

Update from the Washington Coalition for Gifted Education

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This message has been sent to you by The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education. Comments or questions can be sent towagifted@earthlink.net or grevewandi@gmail.com If you wish to have your name deleted from our mailing list, send a notice towagifted@earthlink.net.

Pause, take a deep breath!

The supplemental budget bill left committee with funding restored for Highly Capable.

By voice vote, on an amendment proposed by Rep. Hunter, nearly full funding as established in the Second Supplemental from December was restored – for details, see fact sheet below. Centrum and FPS/DI took approximately 6% cuts in their already small funding, but the funds to districts are fully restored at the rate of $401.08 per student. As of this writing, the full text of 1086 is not yet available on the web sites so our information is from the amendment as posted and from watching the webcast of the session.

Now, the bill, as amended in committee, goes to the House floor on Friday, January 21, late morning (after the caucus meetings, where floor managers make sure they have the votes they need before proceeding to a vote). You can watch on TVW if you have time.

Next step.

Limber up those fingers and get busy contacting your district Representatives today. The risk to Highly Capable funds would come from a floor amendment to either reduce the amount and/or to impose a cutoff date to funding during this school year. (A cutoff date amendment failed in committee on a party line vote.) Ask Representatives to reject either option and to support section 508 for Highly Capable as reported by the committee.

If you had already contacted your Legislators because they are members of the Ways & Means committee, say Thank You for the funding and please vote to uphold it on the floor.

Emails can be sent through the Legislature web site. Go to http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rosters/MembersByDistrict.aspx

and find your district. A click on your Representatives will take you to the individual home pages from which you can send your email.

Your overwhelming response has heartened all Washington advocates of the gifted. We thank you on behalf of the highly capable students of Washington.

Chairman Hunter remarked that he had received a great deal of email about the gifted funds.

Pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

From here the supplemental will go to the Senate where we may have to again make many contacts to ensure funding. We will keep you informed.

For the most current information, follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/wagifted

or on our blog at http://wcge.wordpress.com

Don’t forget Gifted Education Day in Olympia on February 11. We need you there.

Fact sheet for those of you who like to dig into the details.

Approved December supplemental budget called for $9,188,000 for 2010-2011.

Governor’s and Hunter’s proposed budgets called for $2,053,000. Included slightly reduced funding for Centrum and FPS/DI ($159,000 and $84,000) and nothing for districts. (About $1.78 million was to cover payments to districts for 2009-2010 made after the start of the state’s fiscal year but during the school year. Please don’t ask why; it’s too complicated.)

Difference $ 7,135,000.

Amendment to the proposed supplementary passed the committee and calls for $7,118,000 in HCP funding.

Add to the $2.035 million and this totals $9,171 million. Add on the cut amounts (total $17,000) from Centrum and FPS/DI and we arrive back at the $9,188,000.

Please join us for a CPA Parent Coffee Chat this Saturday

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Ever want a sympathetic ear for those perplexing, frustrating and even proud moments? We know parenting those gifted kids can be a lonely job, but rest assured you don’t have to go it alone!

Join your fellow parents and ask a question, share a tip, a story or just a knowing smile.

Come, grab yourself a cup ‘o Joe, pull up a chair and let it all hang out.

Saturday, January 22nd, 2011 at 1:00 PM

Corner Coffee Bar in Perrinville (at the corner of 76th and Olympic View Drive)

Alert – Message from the Coalition for Gifted Education

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This message has been sent to you by The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education. Comments or questions can be sent towagifted@earthlink.net or grevewandi@gmail.com If you wish to have your name deleted from our mailing list, send a notice towagifted@earthlink.net.

This is an urgent message deserving of your immediate attention.

Today the House Ways & Means committee heard proposed substitute house bill 1086 and has fast tracked it for executive session on Thursday, January 19, at 3:30 pm. This bill provides no funding to districts for Highly Capable Programs for the current school year, retroactive to September 2010.

We understand that there will need to be cuts to non-protected programs but a total elimination retroactive to September 2010 is neither proportional nor equitable.

When the House Ways & Means committee meets on Thursday, members can propose amendments to this inequitable provision. We urge you to write immediately to all members of the committee to ask that any cuts made to Highly Capable Programs be proportional to cuts to all other programs and that they not be retroactive. Retroactive cuts will be seriously disruptive to districts and the students they serve.

http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/WAYS/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx is a complete list of all members of the House Ways & Means committee. Each name constitutes a link to a legislator’s home page from which you can send an email.

If you write now, there is still time to amend this bill to provide some level of funding for Highly Capable Programs. It is easier to amend a bill in committee than when it gets to the floor so please WRITE IMMEDIATELY.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THOSE WHO WANT MORE

1. The bill and the summary document are available at http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/default.asp

Click on Legislative Proposals with the yellow ‘new’ button. Then click again on Legislative Proposal with the yellow ‘new’ button on the next page.

2. Here is the summary in brief. This budget proposal suspends funds to districts  for Highly Capable Programs for the entire school year 2010-2011. The $ 2 million in the bill covers some payments made in 2010 for 2009 plus funding for Centrum and Future Problem Solving/Destination ImagiNation for 2010-2011. To repeat, there is no district funding for Highly Capable Programs for the current school year.

From the bill summary, page 49:

“The state allocation for highly capable students is suspended, effective at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year. The 2010 supplemental budget allocated a rate of $401.08 per funded student, up to a maximum of 2.314 percent of each district’s full-time equivalent basic education enrollment. The remaining funding in this budget reflects program costs from the prior school year, two months of which fall in FY 2011.”

3.Based on prior biennial and supplemental budgets for the current year, funds have already been sent to districts and these funds will be recaptured by the state through cuts in basic education appropriations for the remainder of the school year.

From a power point presentation by Supt. Randy Dorn on January 6, 2011:

“If adopted by Legislature, OSPI will adjust district apportionment payments to reflect cuts.

“OSPI will transfer Highly Capable program to General Apportionment in order to then make adjustments to district apportionment.”

Connections Conference–January 29th, Redmond High School

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Northwest Gifted Child Association and Lake Washington Gifted Education Advisory Council are sponsoring The CONNECTIONS conference on Saturday, January 29th from 8:00 to 12:30 p.m. at Redmond High School.

CONNECTIONS is a symposium for parents of gifted children, providing information and sharing opportunities on the unique issues they face. Listen to and talk with experts on gifted children and meet other local parents who may be dealing with the same issues or have stories of what has worked for their families. See the graphic below for details on presenters and location.

People who register at www.nwgca.org using PayPal before January 25th can get the discounted registration fee. Registration fees include a one-year membership in Northwest Gifted Child Association for those who do not have a current membership.

The CONNECTIONS Conference is sponsored by Northwest Gifted Child Association and Lake Washington Gifted Education Advisory Council.