One of the biggest problems I have against  the changes is that they would eliminate the parity among Virginia's gifted education schools. At several conferences I attended in high school, I had the fortune of meeting students specifically recognized for their giftedness from all over Virginia and all over the country. It was always easy to talk about something academic with them because almost all gifted students will find something in common. Any time I get a chance to talk with someone from another Virginia gifted school and learn about their system, I am encouraged that the future of Virginia as an education powerhouse is well on par with the rest of the country. I am worried, though, that this will no longer be the case if gifted education becomes a local matter. The Commonwealth of Virginia needs to take pride in its gifted education system, which has put out so many great people into the working world. The benefit it provides students in confidence, knowledge, and experience is immense. Adopting these proposals and changing the status quo can only be detrimental to the future products of our system, and I sincerely believe we would regret it maybe as soon as fie years from now when the status of Virginia as a source for brilliant students begins to diminish.