The TALENT Act Needs Your Help!
On March 11th 2013 Senator Grassley (R-IA), Senator Mikulski (D-MD) and Senator Casey (D-PA) introduced the To Aid Gifted and High-Ability Learners by Empowering the Nation’s Teachers Act, better known as the TALENT Act (S. 512) http://e2.ma/click/w3ecd/swuoee/ol7zx . The TALENT Act expands the education debate by focusing on gifted, high-ability students—particularly those from low-income or minority backgrounds—who have been overshadowed in a U.S. educational system that focuses on its struggling, low-achieving students. YOU CAN HELP – Please urge our Kentucky Senators McConnell and Paul to Co-Sponsor the TALENT Act by emailing or calling their offices asking for their support. Click HERE to download a pdf with more information about the TALENT Act and how you can help.
Click here to learn how you can contact your legislators.
KAGE is very active in supporting legislation for the gifted and talented. Since 1980, KAGE has worked closely with members of the Kentucky General Assembly to secure appropriate educational opportunities for gifted students. In addition, KAGE members are advocates for Kentucky’s gifted children, communicating with decision-makers: in Kentucky at local school councils, school districts, the Governor’s Office, and the Kentucky Department of Education, and with other groups who care about education. At the national level, KAGE advocates with Kentucky’s Senators and Representatives for federal legislation for gifted children. Decision-makers must know that gifted children constitute a special needs group along with other categories of exceptional children and that gifted children also need to make continuous progress in school.
Each year in February KAGE sponsors Gifted Education Week in Kentucky, and a Gifted Education Week Proclamation Signing in the Capitol in Frankfort. Gifted Education Week in Kentucky is a good time to open positive dialogues with key decision makers, parents, local officials, and community members.
KAGE has put together a list of suggestions on activities to get you and your community involved in Gifted Education Week, but these activities would be great to do anytime during the year.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Click here to learn how you can contact your legislators.
Kentucky’s commitment to funding gifted education has remained stagnant or decreased since the inception of KERA in 1990. Yet, the scope of identification and services has widened as has the cost of providing those services. The current allocation is not sufficient to meet the needs outlined below. An increase in funding for Gifted and Talented Education.is greatly needed.
Increased funding is crucial for:
1. Ongoing professional development for teachers;
2. Comprehensive identification of gifted students; and
3. Appropriate services for gifted students.
Click here for the KY White Paper on Gifted and Talented Education, KENTUCKY’S FUTURE: MINING UNTAPPED TREASURE, CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF THE COMMONWEALTH WHO ARE GIFTED AND TALENTED, for a fuller discussion of the need for increased funding for gifted education.
last updated 04/04/13
