FROM:
Terry James Mohaupt, Chairman, Parent Affiliates
Illinois Association for Gifted Children
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Here is the most up-to-date version of the Gifted Fact Sheet, the position paper prepared by IAGC for distribution to all decision-makers.
Please share it with your memberships and constituents; post it on your websites; and use it in all of your discussions with candidates and elected and appointed officials on the local, regional, and state levels.

Date: Fri, Oct 15, 2004

Support Gifted Education

History of Illinois funding for gifted education
In each of the last two years, 165,000 students in Illinois schools were
negatively affected by the loss of gifted funding!  Illinois lost its leadership
status nationwide with the elimination of the $19 million budget line item for
educating gifted and talented students and by repealing the School Code Article
governing the educational needs of gifted and talented students.  Appropriations
to educate gifted learners originated in 1979, but were dissolved in 2003 when
the General Assembly passed, and the Governor approved, omnibus budget and
budget implementation bills affecting the 165,000 gifted and talented children
in our state with little or no opportunity for public debate on these measures.

What Gifted Children Need:
They need their educational and social/emotional needs met by educators and
parents who understand their unique characteristics and resulting differences.

What we want from our legislators:

• Reinstate language in the School Code that addresses the educational and social/emotional needs of gifted and talented students.
• Reinstate categorical grant funds to identify and evaluate gifted and talented students and to provide programs that challenge these learners.
• Require training for teachers to prepare them to meet the unique learning needs of gifted and talented students.
• Require coursework at the preparatory level in colleges for teacher certification.
• Require teachers to present all students, including gifted and high-ability students, with differentiated educational opportunities.
• Require the review of all children to include African-American and Hispanic students, as well as other minority gifted and talented children.

Why this is important:
While we agree that, indeed, No Child should be Left Behind, it appears that the
only children being left behind are those who have met or exceeded expectations.  
Gifted education is a need, not a privilege.  Gifted students need an
appropriate education, as do the students who struggle to meet State standards.  
Elimination of the categorical grant funds affects all schools and communities.

Our nation depends on students who will become the next generation of leaders.  
Our democratic society is based on equal opportunity for all, regardless of race
or economic status.  Gifted and talented children, as well as high-ability
learners, deserve our attention.  It's time that we take action by reinstating
language in the School Code and grant funds to the State budget.

Prepared by the Illinois Association for Gifted Children, October, 2004

For further information please contact:
Dr. Sally Y. Walker, Executive Director, (815) 623-9850
Phil Milsk, Policy Advisor, (815) 462-9134

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Penny Britton Kolloff, Ph.D., President
ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN
an affiliate of National Association for Gifted Children
800 East Northwest Highway, Suite 610
Palatine, Illinois 60074
Phone 847-963-1892
Fax 847-963-1893
http://www.iagcgifted.org