To whom it may concern:

I have two children.  My son is already benefiting from the gifted program.  My daughter has been identified as gifted and will be entering the program soon.  Their needs cannot be met in the "regular" classroom.  This is not because we don't have wonderful, capable teachers, but because of the pressures teachers and schools face with the No Child Left Behind testing climate.  As a result, the standard curriculum is leaving our gifted children behind. 

The gifted program provides them with a needed stimulation from a curriculum that is not designed to meet the needs of gifted children.   These children need and deserve to have their rights to an appropriate education protected.

My children and others like them need to have an environment where they can flourish.  Do not deny these children what they need by taking away the gifted program funding.

Thank you for your consideration,

Lisa Fo