I strongly urge state officials to accept and implement the NAACP recommended amendments to the gifted education regulations, which will result in equitable and truly representative gifted programs throughout Virginia. Ethnic minority and low-income gifted students will receive the services they need AND have a right to access.

In Chesterfield public schools: African American students are 27% of the student enrollment, but are only 10% of the students receiving gifted education services. European American (Caucasian)students are 61% of the student enrollment, but are 82% of students receiving gifted education services.

Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch are 25% of the student enrollment, but are less than 3% of the students placed in the center-based gifted education program.

I urge state officials to: 1) reject 8 VAC 20-40-40 subparagraph D3 and replace it with specific language that establishes how to weight the criteria  used to identify students to be placed in gifted programs; 2) require school divisions to use criteria and a process that is evidence-based and has been validated through rigorous scientific methods to identify students who need and are placed in gifted education services.

The changes in the regulations cited above are needed to address and correct the lack of access to gifted education by low-income and ethnic minority students. The changes will allow these students to reach their full potential and become productive, contributing citizens of Virginia.