The state Legislature has passed the second supplemental budget bill and it restores highly capable funding to the level in ESSB 6444 – $18,377,000 for two years, including $170,000 per year for Centrum and $90,000 per year for FPS/DI. That is, the 6.287% across-the-board-cut ordered by the Governor this fall is rescinded.

This bill plugs only half of the budget hole so there will have to be either another supplemental when session starts on January 10, or another round of across the board cuts. For those interested in the details, you can get the bill and the explanation at http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/detail/2010/co2010p.asp Click on  Summary.

The Governor’s budget proposal for the 2011-2013 biennium is due out no later than Wednesday. When we see what is in it for highly capable funding, we will have a better idea of what advocates need to do.

This was just an opening skirmish in what is likely to be a bruising contest for limited funds. Your outstanding efforts in contacting Legislators have brought us this far. We will need additional efforts in the coming weeks and months. If you have a newly elected Legislator(s), make every effort to contact him/her to begin their education about gifted. Newly elected Legislators will not have Olympia email addresses or phone numbers until they are sworn in on January 10. Many campaign web sites are still active and contain contact local information.

And do make plans to be in Olympia for Gifted Education Day on February 11, 2011. Your presence is vital to our efforts.