I am the parent of two children in the gifted program in Norfolk Public Schools.  I have seen the delivery system change drastically in our elementary school since my son began there eight years ago.  It has improved markedly, and I believe that is due to accountability.  Unfortunately, I believe gifted services are often seen as superfluous and a "luxury" when it comes to budgeting on the local level.  In these increasingly tightening economic times, giving more discretion to local leaders will surely result in cuts to gifted education programs.  In the face of hard budgeting decisions, sentiment tends to lean toward the underachieving student, although the gifted student has needs just as specific and can yield great rewards for the school district.

I also believe keeping a five-year plan in place is essential.  During the first few years my son was in public school, it seemed that the delivery system for gifted education changed every year.  He was skipped up a grade.  Then Field Lighthouse, a once-a -week pull-out program.  Then clustering.  Then a new definition of clustering.  It has just been in the past few years that the delivery system in our local schools has found it's equilibrium.  I believe a five-year plan submitted to the state DOE will help keep gifted education programs on track and moving forward, instead of in circles (which are often dictated byfunding).  All children deserve stability in their education, and gifted programs should have oversight by experts at the state level to ensure stability at the local level.