As schools scramble for money to make up for anticipated lack of funding from state budgets, parents, teachers, and students are broken-hearted to discover that gifted programs are on the list to be considered for programming changes. Class times may be reduced or eliminated, and often parents and teachers do not know how to make their voices heard.
State Department Regulations for Gifted Education
States vary on how well they protect gifted education programming, but every state department of ed should have a website with information. For example, The New York State Department of Education Website says:
"An appropriate program has been defined as one that offers a gifted pupil a trained teacher, classmates with similar characteristics, and a curriculum that is appropriately challenging and adaptable to each pupil’s rate and style of learning."
If West Genesee, or any district, cuts gifted programming, then parents have the duty to ensure that their students are:
- being taught by someone with training in working with gifted students
- in class with gifted peers
- are being offered challenging curriculum or innovative experiences
Although those descriptors fit a basic gifted classroom, they are not the only program options. Regular classroom teachers can and do have great success with providing flexible grouping, curriculum compacting,and other in-class enrichment options.
Discovering Gifted Federal Funding in State Budgets
Schools that accept federal funding from the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Grant Program are required to meet the conditions of the federal grant, which include:
- professional development for teaches of gifted students
- programs serving gifted and talented students
- creating and using innovative learning experiences
- encouraging use of the integrated curriculum model for whole school use
- planning, operating, and improving gifted programs
- research, technical assistance, and information related to gifted education
Concerned taxpayers can find out from the state department if their school district receives money from the Javits Grant, and if they do, they can ask the state department to audit the school and make sure that the money is properly used. It does not make sense for a district to cut a funded program, especially when much of the federal money benefits regular classrooms as well as gifted classrooms. Otherwise, public education will lose students because the school failed in their obligations to serve the public.
School Budgets, Gifted Programs, and Hard Choices
Parents in West Genesee are doing everything right, but their programs are still being considered for cuts. The school board and Superintendent Christopher R. Brown are contemplating drastic changes due to a lack of money. In fact, New York's West Genesee's school district is considering eliminating their gifted program to help maintain reasonable classroom sizes.
Concerned citizens in West Genesee have some options, and these are the options that all parents and teachers have when gifted programming is threatened.
- Discover what the state department requires for gifted education.
- Find out what federal funding is given to state schools for gifted education.
- Bring information and resources to the School Board before final decisions are made.
Despite parent complaints to the school board, Catie O'Toole reports that "Right now, the enrichment program is at the bottom of the list of items to be restored if the district receives any unanticipated money from the government." ("West Genesee Moms Ask Why Cut The Gifted Program", Central New York News, Syracuse.com)
Gifted Information and Resources for Parents and Teachers
Hoagies' Gifted is one of the best gifted libraries on the internet. They have resources for everyone – parents, teachers, students, and administrators. Their gifted programming library has research about:
- education programming options
- fighting bias in gifted education
- research about the best gifted programs for elementary and secondary gifted students
- building gifted programs
- options for parents and educators
The site is a wealth of knowledge, and has handouts for parents and teachers that help promote gifted education.
Students needs are best met in a gifted classroom with a trained gifted education teacher, but it is possible for a gifted teacher to provide resource options to regular classroom teachers.
Alex Sharp - Alex Sharp is a teacher who has been keeping Suite101 readers up to date with the latest in audio- and e-book gadgetry since 2008.
