This online petition was spearheaded by a Seattle parent. They are seeking as many signatures as possible statewide to get this message to the Governor and state legislators. It only takes a minute and here’s the link:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/budgcuts/petition.html
Thank you!
90 seconds of your time NOW can make a lifetime of difference for your child.
The immediate future of gifted education in Washington state is in peril.
Governor Chris Gregoire, in an attempt to deal with the larger than projected revenue shortfalls and the reduction in tax revenues that resulted from the outcomes of the recent election, has put together a list of suggested cuts (and only cuts) that she has sent on to the legislature for their consideration. Included in the six program cuts are four that are education related, and one of them (the least expensive program on the list) is funding for gifted education in Washington.
In order to implement these cuts, the legislature would presumably have to change the legislation currently scheduled to go into effect in September that includes gifted education as a mandated component of basic education in this state. It would also put the brakes on the work of the Highly Capable Program Technical Working Group, which just presented it’s initial recommendations to the Quality Education Council last week on how to bring Washington into the forefront in the provision of education for gifted students in the US.
This is critical, as without state funding, gifted programming in Edmonds School District will be decimated, if not eliminated all together.
Now is the time to let our legislators know how important gifted education is for our families. Historically, the legislators who represent the families in the Edmonds School District service area have been supportive of gifted programming and have voted to continue funding with each biennium. We urge you to contact them directly to let them know that “unfunding is unacceptable” for gifted students. Our students do what they can to convince our legislators of the value of our programs (why participation in Gifted Education Day is so important), but it is up to those of us who have the right to vote to lobby for them.
The expectation is that the legislature will be called back into special session before the scheduled January reconvening. Please utilize the links below to contact your legislators and let them know how you wish them to vote. You can email or phone them.
This is urgent! The legislature could be called back into session any day now. The more they hear from their constituency, the better-informed their voting will be.
Please take 90 seconds now to contact your legislators.
Challenge Parent Association Board of Directors
The Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act was established to provide funds to help highly capable disadvantaged students in the US. As things currently stand, the Javits Act […]
Dear NWGCA Members,
We have finally received word that the Governor signed the budget without vetoing any portion of the funding for gifted education. This is a monumental testimonial to the hard work of every person who supports the gifted education community. I have copied those areas of the budget that apply to gifted education. Please share this information with all those people who rely on you for information about gifted education and with your school board members and the school administrators responsible for gifted education in your district.
Thank you for your hard work this legislative session.
The U.S. Congress is preparing to vote on funding for the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act for the next fiscal year. This act has provided crucial funding to gifted education programs and research into best practices nationwide. Since 2003, the funding for these grants has been reduced, adversely impacting programs and organizations in their ability to serve talented and gifted students. A substantial portion of the funding for this act is dedicated to improving methods for identifying disadvantaged gifted and talented youth and getting them into programs that help them to fulfill their academic potentials.
Currently, none of Washington state’s federal representatives are signers on what are known as the “Dear Colleague” letters. House and Senate versions of “Dear Colleague” letters are distributed to members of each legislative body emphasizing the importance of funding the Javits Act at the pre-2003 level, and are signed by House or Senate members who support this position.
The House has completed and distributed its letter, however there is still time for Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray from Washington state to add their signatures to the Senate’s “Dear Colleague” letter. Please contact both senators and urge them to add their names to the supporters of strong and effective funding for Javits Act grants in 2011.
The deadline for adding signatures is April 13. Congress is currently on its Easter break, so most legislators should be back in their home districts right now.
We had a turnout of approximately 100 parents and students at this year’s Gifted Education Day in Olympia! A huge thank you to all who got up at the crack of dawn and headed down there to represent Terrace Park and the need for gifted education funding in the state of Washington.
The combination of seeing the many families and hearing the students’ stories in their own voices made a powerful impression on each legislator about the importance of funding for gifted education.
Here are the latest details and information on the planned activities for families from the Challenge Program in Edmonds School District attending Gifted Education Day in Olympia on Friday, February 5th. Everyone who has registered with CPA has received this information in email, but anyone with students in the gifted education programs are welcome to participate in Olympia on the 5th.
Please view the GED Itinerary for the latest details on meetings with legislators, tours of the Capitol, and travel directions. We hope to see you there!
Please note that we are meeting at Terrace Park at 7:15 a.m. and plan on leaving the school at 7:30 a.m. We needed to move the time up in order to make some of the early meetings with legislators.
Shortly, we will be sending out more specific information on directions and timed activities to those of you who have registered for Friday’s event. We look forward to seeing everyone this Friday!
Thank you,
CPA Board
Bulletproofing Gifted Kids: Seven Strategies that Every Teacher, Counselor, and Parent Needs to Know is the title of the first NAGC Webinar of 2010: What are critical non-intellective factors that profoundly impact optimal development and success? Seven essential themes guide parents, counselors, and teachers in delivering powerful differentiated school and home support. The difference makers are: