Kate Simkowiak

Resources

Includes books and websites with resources for gifted education.

Message from The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education – March 13th

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BUDGET PROPOSALS

Of interest to all Highly Capable advocates is what the budget proposals will provide for HCP funding. As part of basic education, costs of a classroom, utilities, teachers, administration, transportation, etc are covered under basic education funding. The considerable costs of identification, professional development, special curriculum and textbooks are covered by the supplemental HCP funding provided by the funding formula.

Everything on the budget is happening AFTER Gifted Education Day. The Revenue Forecast Council releases its quarterly revenue forecast on March 20th. This lets the Governor and Legislators know how much revenue the state expects to have this fiscal year.

It is the Senate’s turn to put out a budget first this year and the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus plans to present their budget proposal the week of the 25th and the House Democratic Caucus shortly thereafter. At some point Governor Inslee is expected to propose either a budget or an outline of spending priorities – which is not clear from news reports.

The current biennial budget provides $8,759,000 for FY 2012 and $8,842,000 for FY 2013 for HCP, a total of $17,601,000. The last budget prior to inclusion in basic education provided  $17,993,000 for the biennium.

Governor Gregoire’s last budget proposal called for $9,472,000 for FY 2012 and $9,594,000, a total of $19,268,000; approximately a 9% increase. Since the HCPTWG and QEC Recommendations (see next paragraph) call for a new funding formula which we estimate as yielding about $45,000,000 per fiscal year, it is clear that no “real and measurable progress toward achieving full compliance” has been made toward full and ample funding as part of basic education.

McCleary calls for compliance by 2018, so the Legislature has a long way to go to reach this goal for Highly Capable Programs. We strongly suggest that it begin with this budget, enacting a new formula based on 5% of students, in a class size of 15, 6.5 hours for grades K-6 and 3.1 hours for grades 7-12.

Legislators are talking about an additional $900 billion to $1.6 billion for basic education. Surely they can find an extra $45 million for HCP!

GIFTED EDUCATION DAY  – AND AFTER

We have been attempting to get HB 1560 amended to provide for a new formula, with little visible progress to date.

Last week we sent you a draft of a proposed resolution in the Legislature. This week we are pleased to send you a copy of the actual resolution, co-sponsored by 47 of 49 Senators. It is a very strong statement of support for gifted education but we should take it cautiously – many may have co-sponsored as a professional courtesy without reading it carefully and becoming aware of its implications. Different versions of this Resolution are circulating in the House and as a Proclamation from the Governor.

If the sponsors really believe what the resolution states, then they should immediately vote to implement the recommendations of the Highly Capable Program Technical Working Group as endorsed by the Quality Education Council. They should vote a more adequate and equitable funding formula to enable these programs to reach more students and help close the opportunity gap. They should substantially increase Highly Capable Program funding in the upcoming biennial budget and reach full and ample funding by 2018.

So come down to Olympia on March 19th and talk to your Legislators about the need for and value of Highly Capable Programs to both the student and the state; the requirements of the McCleary Decision for full and ample funding; and the recommendations of the HCPTWG and the QEC.

Before you do so, take a close look at the power point from NEWS, the plaintiffs in McCleary, presented March 10, http://waschoolexcellence.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/McCleary-presentation-3-10-13.pdf. The Coalition is a member of NEWS.

Be ready to push harder on the budget if the various budget proposals don’t “do right” for Highly Capable Programs when they come out. We will let you know if such action is necessary.

To end the State’s violation of Washington children’s constitutional rights by 2018, each State budget must:
(1) “demonstrate steady progress” implementing education funding reforms under ESHB 2261, and
(2) “show real and measurable progress toward achieving full compliance with article IX, section 1 by 2018.”
July 18, 2012 Supreme Court Order at ¶4

SENG Webinar Event, March 26th – Living with Intensity Series – Part 3

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Title: “Still Gifted After All These Years — Lifespan Intensity and Gifted Adults”
Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Time: 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. (Eastern)
Presenter: Patricia Gatto Walden, PhD
APA CE: 1

Gifted children become gifted adults experiencing their inner world and surrounding environment in deep and complex ways. Throughout their lives, gifted adults have recognized that intensities, asynchrony, perfectionism, and feelings of dissimilarity from others have affected their relationships, personal life, and career choices.

Incorporating a holistic perspective (focus given to intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual/ethical and social domains), this SENGinar will identify the multifaceted intrinsic strengths, concerns, and needs of gifted adults. Primary lifelong issues of feeling different and alone, coping with isolation, self-criticism, and relentless perfectionism will be addressed.

After participating in this webinar, you will be able to:

  • Understand how an individual experiences giftedness “from the inside out.”
  • Identify common difficulties and misunderstandings of adult giftedness.
  • Appreciate the lifelong focus on meaning and purpose.
  • Understand the importance of attending to the total self to attain health and well-being.

This SENGinar is the third in a 3-part series based on the book Living with Intensity. To receive APA credit you must read the book, attend the entire webinar, and complete the post-event evaluation. You may purchase the book through Great Potential Press or Amazon.

NWGCA Connections Conference this Saturday in Puyallup

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This will be our largest conference ever and you don’t want to miss out! We have a GREAT day planned with a fabulous speaker line up AND celebrating Washington State’s oldest gifted advocacy group: 50 years old!

With cake and presents. $65 on site registration and only $5 for additional family members.

When:
February 9, 2013
8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Where:
Aylen Junior High
101 15th Street SW
Puyallup, WA 98371

Try to carpool and have a chance to discuss what you hear and bond with other gifted families.

For more information on this conference click here.

Upcoming Gifted Education Webinars

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Are you looking for an easily-accessible and free or reasonably priced way to gather research-based information about gifted learners? These webinars in the coming weeks, many of them presented by widely-recognized experts in the field, are a fabulous option. Additionally, if you can’t watch one “live,” in most cases registration allows you to access it after-the-fact at a later time.

February 12, 7:30 PM Eastern – Addressing the Unique Challenges of Culturally Diverse Gifted Learners Presented by Joy Lawson Davis (University of Louisiana, Lafayette), this webinar, brought to you by SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) will focus on issues faced by underrepresented gifted children and solutions teachers can employ to address the needs of exceptional learners from minority populations.

February 12, 7:00 PM Pacific – Meeting the Needs of the Gifted Learner in the Common Core Classroom Via UC-Irvine, this FREE webinar presented by Rhonda Cameron (Orange County Dept. of Ed., CA) will show teachers ways to fully differentiate the Common Core so as to better meet the learning needs of gifted learners (and all learners).

February 13, 7:00 PM Eastern – Adapting the Writing Common Core for Gifted Learners This NAGC webinar, presented by Claire Hughes of the College of Coastal Georgia and Debra Troxclair of Lamar University (TX), covers information for teachers about how the Common Core English Language Arts standards can be adapted and differentiated for advanced learners in the area of writing. Both presenters are among the authors of NAGC’s new book, “Using the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts With Gifted and Advanced Learners.”

February 19, 7:00 PM Pacific – Making GATE Work Without Funding This FREE UC-Irvine webinar presented by Gina Danley (Santa Maria-Bonita Schools, CA) will provide insights and ideas for how schools and districts can maintain and offer gifted programming in times of lean or disappearing budgets.

February 20, 7:00 PM Eastern – Un”Common” Creativity: Infusing Creative Thinking Across The Common Core Susan Dulong Langley returns for this NAGC webinar full of ideas and strategies for infusing creative thinking skills together with the Common Core.

February 21, 7:30 PM Eastern – Grappling with Giftedness: A Lifelong Challenge A SENG webinar, Ellen Fiedler (Northeastern Illinois University) will share insights about possible unresolved affective issues related to their giftedness that may still be impacting gifted adults. Characteristics of gifted adults and their impact on “giftedness across the lifespan” will also be covered.

February 26, 7:00 PM Pacific – Tech Tools to Differentiate and Engage Gifted Learners This final FREE UC-Irvine webinar, presented by Sean Williams (University of La Verne), highlights various Web 2.0 tools that teachers can use to engage and differentiate their gifted and advanced learners.

[A credit option is also available for the UC-Irvine webinars. Contact Lisa Kadowaki in the UC-Irvine Extension Office for more information. Her email is at the bottom of the 5th Annual GATE Webinar Series Flyer.pdf.]

February 26, 7:30 PM Eastern – Understanding Intensity: Practical Applications for Parents, Teachers, and Counselors This SENGinar, presented by Michele Kane (Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago), is designed to provide insights about the heightened sensitivities and intensities of gifted youth and how the adults in their lives can help them understand and develop their social and emotional aspects.

February 27, 7:00 PM Eastern – Implementing the Common Core State Standards with Various Program Models in Gifted Education Another of NAGC’s spring webinars, join up on this night to learn from Alicia Cotabish (University of Central Arkansas) and Bronwyn MacFarlane (University of Arkansas at Little Rock) about the relationships between gifted program models and the Common Core State Standards. Also included will be examples of how to implement the CCSS in mathematics for gifted learners.

March 13, 7:00 PM Eastern – Creativity and Complexity in Math and Science Presented by Cheryll Adams (Ball State University, IN), this NAGC webinar will offer characteristics of students who are gifted in mathematics and science, along with modifications “to provide more creativity, complexity, depth, and abstractness for students gifted in mathematics and science.”

March 26, 7:30 PM Eastern – Still Gifted After All These Years–Lifespan Intensity and Gifted Adults This final spring SENGinar, presented by Patricia Gatto Walden (Institute of Educational Advancement), will cover innate social and emotional traits of giftedness, misunderstandings that parents and teachers often have regarding them, and ways parents and teachers can nurture gifted children’s health and well-being.

[Many SENGinars offer APA credit for psychologists. Visit this page for more information.]

[SENG is also offering free webinars to 30 U.S. schools this spring. Visit this page for information on how to apply.]

March 27, 7:00 PM Eastern – Educating Primary Gifted Students: Analyzing Nonfiction Books with a Focus on Higher-Level Skill Development This NAGC webinar, presented by Kimberley Chandler (College of William & Mary, VA), examines the use of non-fiction text with primary grade learners and provides strategies for how to assist young learners in analyzing, inferring, and summarizing the information in non-fiction. Extensions for research projects, writing activities, and questioning strategies will also be highlighted.

[Site licenses are available for all NAGC WOW webinars. Visit this page for more information.]

Message from The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education – Jan. 28th

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1. Our overriding goal this session is to maintain our place in basic education and to obtain full funding. Governor Gregoire was required by the Constitution to submit a budget proposal. Hearings are being held on it even though it is basically DOA. More budget proposals will be forthcoming from Governor Inslee and from the two houses.

Here is a direct quote from the testimony of Ramona Hattendorf of the state PTA regarding former Governor Gregoire’s budget proposal for the coming biennium.

“The legal obligation to Washington children, however, extends beyond early learning and the primary grades. The state laid out its intent to fully fund basic education with passage in 2009 of ESHB 2261. Yet four years later, this state still doesn’t pay for a basic six-period day, and our 24-credit career- and college-ready graduation requirements are on hold indefinitely. This affects every child in the state. Students aren’t reaching their academic potential because schools can’t consistently give them access to the education they need.

“Struggling readers continue to struggle in ineffective programs. Too many of our K-3 teachers and principals do not understand the science behind reading, do not recognize the indicators for dyslexia or other reading disabilities, do not understand the importance and relevance of phonological screening in the K-3 years. Middle-schoolers ready for algebra continue to be denied access, simply because there aren’t enough slots for them.

“Our schools are stressed.  State funding doesn’t cover the operational costs of what most community members assume is a standard six-period day that can offer a basic college prep program, career and technical classes, arts and physical education. All of our large, successful school districts have foundations, booster clubs and PTAs raising significant private funds to cover basics like curriculum and staffing. State funds to support school improvement plans are nonexistent.

“For this reason, Washington State PTA is concerned that the budget proposed by Gov. Gregoire doesn’t go far enough to address the McCleary court decision. The minimum components of basic education, as defined in law, are not being met and there is no schedule for full implementation.

“Minimum components of basic education, as described in RCW 28A.150.220, include:

▪   Instruction in the essential academic learning requirements and accompanying state assessment system (The new “Common Core” standards in math and English language arts fall under this category, along with other learning standards)

▪   Instruction that “provides students the opportunity to complete twenty-four credits for high school graduation, subject to a phased-in implementation of the twenty-four credits as established by the legislature.”

▪   Supplemental instruction and services for underachieving students through the learning assistance program

▪   Supplemental instruction and services for English Language Learner students through the transitional bilingual instruction program

▪   The opportunity for an appropriate education at public expense for all eligible students with disabilities

▪   Programs for highly capable students

“Education must be prioritized in the budget and legal commitments met. Fully implementing and funding 2009’s HB 2261 will get you there. This bill extends well beyond K-3 class size and full-day kindergarten and has significant components for grades 4 to 12 at all schools.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Our thanks to the PTA for their support.

Message from The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education – Jan. 27th

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At last, the most anticipated publishing event of the year is here – the GEDay handbook is finally ready!

It is attached in 3 parts: Basics, Spotlights, Myths & Facts. If you were looking for something and don’t find it included, please contact us for more information.

For those bringing student groups, and who wish to make a curriculum connection with the trip to Olympia, there is a lot of information on the state web sites. The legislature website has lots of materials on curriculum that might be used by you.  Try civic education, bill information; http://www.des.wa.gov/services/facilities/CapitolCampus/teacher/Pages/default.aspx; and http://www.leg.wa.gov/BackToSchool/Pages/default.aspx#lesson_plans

It may not be too late to schedule a guided tour of the capitol building.

Online Opportunities for your Gifted 6th through 8th Graders

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Center for Talent Development’s Gifted LearningLinks (GLL) online program provides gifted students around the world with courses that are rigorous, furnish individualized attention, and allow for an independent pace.
Academically talented students in grades 6 through 8 can be challenged, inspired and energized by taking a credit-bearing 18-week Honors Electives (HE) course or 9-month Honors (H) course.

Courses include:

  • Playwriting 101 (HE)
  • Medical Microbiology (HE)
  • 3D Graphic Modeling for Games, Illustrations & Animated Short Features (HE)
  • Psychology Honors (H)
  • Neuroscience Honors (H)
  • Latin I Honors Wheelock or Ecce Romani (H)

Honors and Honors Electives courses enroll on a monthly basis. Register by February 1 to start on February 15.

Don’t see a class among the 60+ we offer that interests your child? Our Independent Study pairs students with an online mentor for 9 weeks. Together they create a tailored course based on a student proposal. Extracurricular Clubs such as Robotics and Architecture are formed and organized by students under the direction of a faculty advisor and run 18 weeks, starting February 15.

Visit the website for all of the current Gifted LearningLinks courses.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us at gll@northwestern.edu.

Challenging Online Classes for Gifted High School Students

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Center for Talent Development’s Gifted LearningLinks allows students to study online any time, any place, any pace.

Academically talented students in grades nine through twelve have the opportunity to enroll in credit-bearing Honors Electives courses, Honors courses and Advanced Placement® courses. Students work at their own pace, guided by a master teacher who provides personal and individualized feedback as they work through rigorous curriculum.

Our single-credit Honors Elective courses are 18 weeks long and are special interest courses that may not be available in students’ schools, such as Effective Essay Writing: Writing for Test Preparation, College Applications & Beyond, The Influence of Art & Architecture, Introduction to Epidemiology and more.

Our Honors courses are one and two semesters for credit and designed for motivated students seeking challenge and rigor. We offer courses in English & Writing, Humanities & Social Sciences, Science, Technology and World Languages.

AP® courses are one and two semesters and prepare students for the AP® exams.  We offer over twenty AP® courses, including AP® World History, AP® Economics Micro & Macro, AP® Calculus AB and more.

All of these courses can begin any month; register by February 1 and begin class on the 15th.

Looking for other options?  Independent Study pairs students with an online mentor for 9 weeks. Together they create a tailored course based on a student proposal. Extracurricular Clubs such as Robotics and Architecture are formed and organized by students under the direction of a faculty advisor and run 18 weeks, starting February 15.

Please visit our website for more information about our many opportunities for your talented high schooler.

Message from The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education – Jan. 3rd

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

The Coalition needs your input.

Have you talked with a legislator in the past year about Highly Capable Programs/gifted education? If yes, please send us an email at wagifted@earthlink.net and tell us:

– Who you talked with
– Their District
– Topic of the conversation
– How the Legislator views the issue of programs and funding for Highly Capable students – e.g. enthusiastic supporter prepared to speak up; lukewarm; not in favor of; needs more information; a believer that “all students are gifted;” etc.
– Your name and email address in case we need to contact you.

We need this information to target our planning to build legislative support for ample funding of HCP. Thank you for your participation.

Opportunities for advocates:
1. A reminder of the Connections Conference sponsored by our partner the Northwest Gifted Child Association on February 9, 2013.

2. We present the following as an informational piece only. This does not constitute either a recommendation or endorsement.
Seabury School, Tacoma, is presenting its 3rd Annual Gifted Education Seminar on February 20th. Click here if you are interested in this event.

3. Last, but certainly not least, Gifted Education Day, March 19, 2013, Columbia Room of the Legislative Building in Olympia. More information will be forthcoming soon. Please plan to join us – March 19th.

If you are planning to be in Olympia, you can find a lot of excellent information at Visiting the State Capitol.

Other reminders:
4. We are up to 637 followers on Facebook. We hope to reach 750 by the time the Legislature begins considering ample funding for HCP. If you use Facebook, please “like” us NOW.

5. As usual, all three gifted groups need funding. Attached are two membership/donation options: The Joint Memberships in the Coalition, NWGCA and WAETAG or membership in the Coalition only. Please consider joining/donating to one or more of these support organizations.