I am a parent of two identified gifted children, and also a parent rep on our county gifted education advisory board.  The elementary gifted program in our county has improved and grown tremendously since my 10th grader was first identified in kindergarten.  Daily math and language arts full-length classes with gifted resource teachers are available for our 3rd-6th grade gifted students.  This wonderful program has already been centralized to one location due to funding contraints.  Our county does not have the funding available to provide services in all four core areas.  If the proposed change to require all four subjects is adopted, it will be devastating to our county and our gifted students.

Another change that would be detrimental to gifted education placing approval of the gifted plan with the local school board.  Local school board members often may not have the experience and understanding of the educational needs of gifted children.  These programs are viewed by many in our area as unnecessary extras.  Local pressure could easily influence a local school board to cut or drop gifted programs.  There would also be instability in support for the programs as different boards are elected.  I feel it is important for approval of gifted plans to remain with qualified and experienced education professionals at the state level.