From The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education
COALITION MEETINGS
The first Coalition meeting for the coming year is scheduled for October 1. Mark your calendar now. As last year, we will meet at the Renton School District Headquarters. We will be in Room 257 (upstairs) and will meet from 10 – noon. Note the change in time! We will be discussing our goals and tactics for the upcoming Legislative session; results of Coalition work groups; the PTA legislative proposal; the work of the Quality Education Council and the Funding Task Force. An agenda is attached.
We invite coordinators who can do so to join us as there will not be separate coordinator meetings this year.
Meetings are also scheduled for January 7 and May 6. Timely reminders will be sent to you but please mark them in your calendars now.
IMPLEMENTATION OF ESHB 2261
The last Legislative session was an important one for advocates for gifted students as education reform legislation was passed and signed by the Governor. Under ESHB 2261, highly capable programs will become an integral part of basic education when implemented by the Legislature. Inclusion in the definition of basic education was a hard fought and successful effort which was made possible only through the help of our supporters and other groups. We were also successful in maintaining funding for highly capable programs despite severe budget cuts to education.
However, our work as advocates is only half finished since full implementation lies ahead. See attached summary from the Legislature.
v. 3 what is the coalition Aug 2009
Our goals for implementation are set forth in the attached position paper. This position paper has been submitted to the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Quality Education Council (implementation schedule), the Funding Formula Work Group (amount of funding) and the K12 Data Governance Group (data on the progress of programs and students).
We will work hard to achieve these goals and ask your support, both in the actions you take and in the membership you renew or initiate. With your support we look forward to another difficult but successful year.
PTA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
There will be an issue regarding Highly Capable programs and education reform before the Assembly. See the proposal on page 13 of the attached Issues Guide. If you are a PTA member, urge your local representative to the Assembly to vote yes.
GIFTED EDUCATION DAY 2010
Gifted Education Day will be February 5, 2010 in Olympia. The Governor and the Superintendent of Public Instruction have been invited to attend. The theme for Gifted Ed Day 2010 is speedy implementation of our goals for education reform as outlined in our position paper on implementation.
If you are planning to bring a group of students, you need to begin preparations now. You will need to arrange for absence from school for February 5th, transportation, permissions from parents, etc. Feel free to use the attached flyer in your promotional efforts. If you plan to bring a group of advocates and/or students, please let the Coalition know as soon as possible.
wagifted @earthlink.net