While looking at some of the proposed changes in regulations to serve the gifted students in Virginia, I had one question. Why seek to weaken gifted education in our state?

The following items should be changed so that those who serve the gifted students in our schools can meet the needs of the children  that are entrusted to us:

1.   While large school divisions may have the personnel and resources to process the large amount of referrals in 60 business days, smaller divisions in Virginia do not. I feel that the window should be set at 90 school days so that the time remains flexible for divisions to act accordingly. To truly process a gifted referral, multiple things must be gathered. Ability and achievement tests are administered, work samples gathered, teacher observations recorded, and records are accessed. While this could be rushed together in 60 days, more evidence can be collected over time. Ninety days gives divisions the flexibility to do so, if they choose to do so.

2.  Gifted plans should be written every five years so that divisions can set long-term goals to serve the needs of gifted children. These plans should be submitted to the DOE, and not local school boards. Often local school boards do not have the training or interest in gifted education that is necessary to really look at these plans.

3.  The use of achievement tests must also be specifically included in the description of measurements to be used in the identification process. While all divisions may not use these in their identification processes, those of us that do run the risk of having funding for a nationally-normed achievement test scrapped by the local school board. It is extremely important to use nationally-normed tests, as Virginia SOL tests are not.

4.  State funding for specific use in gifted education should be reinstated so that divisions can implement effective methods and prorgams of instruction aimed at serving gifted children.

George Fohl
N.B. Clements Junior High School
Prince George, VA