As a former gifted resource teacher and a former Chair of the City of Alexandria's Talented and Gifted Advisory Committee, I have spent quite a bit of time reviewing gifted education in our city, regionally, and statewide. I have been involved with reviewing and revising the Local Plan for our jurisdiction, and in communicating with our School Board to work to protect our gifted eduction program. 

The proposed regulations would endanger the effectiveness of gifted education by ceding too much power to local school boards, who seldom have the expertise required to make choices that represent best practices in this field. 

I agree with the comments posted by the Virginia Consortium of Gifted Coordinators and the comments by the Talented and Gifted Advisory Committee of Alexandria City, as well as the comments of most of the other posters here. These regulations should NOT be passed with the changes as currently proposed.

Thank you,

Maureen Leary, MEd

Alexandria, VA