As a 31-year veteran public school teacher from a rural section of the Commonwealth, I am greatly concerned about the proposed changes in the regulations governing gifted programs, particularly two issues: funding and the five-year plan. If funding is not state-mandated, schools can opt to decrease  the funding for gifted programs. Too often I have heard educated citizens in our county say, "Gifted kids will succeed no matter what. We don't need programs for a small minority of students." Language such as this reveals a mindset of restriction, limitation. If we are concerned that "NO child be left behind," shouldn't we also be concerned that our brightest students continue to be challenged, to move ahead in their education, unrestricted by funding of programs? Returning funding to the local level would allow counties to perpetrate this distorted point of view, leaving gifted students "behind" in their learning.

Concerning the proposed changes in the five-year plan, peer review at the state level is far more beneficial than allowing local school boards--often composed of well meaning, upstanding citizens with little formal training in gifted education--to review local plans. Peers with experience in gifted education are an invaluable resource in plan revision.  Also, having five years to implement changes and to adjust as needed is preferable to an annual plan which would limit long-range goals

I am proud of Shenandoah County Public Schools and the services we provide our gifted students.  I stand opposed to legislation that would decrease or deny services to our brightest minds.