I support the following requests:

(1) that local school division plans be developed on a 5-year basis in order for school divisions to have the opportunity to develop long-term goals, implement changes, and evaluate before updating the plan. Having plans developed on an annual basis is not a sound educational practice.

(2) that the plans be submitted to the Department of Education for approval to ensure compliance to minimum requirements of identification and programming across the Commonwealth. The present system of peer review is not only an accountability measure, but a teaching and learning process for school division coordinators of gifted education.

(3) for reinstatement of gifted funding section which states that funding administered by the DOE for the education of gifted students be used only to support those activities identified in the school division's plan as approved by the Board of Education (BOE).