Please do not adopt the new regulations on gifted education! We need to move forward and not backward. The school board should not be allowed to approve the gifted education plans because they are not experts in the gifted field and, therefore, do not know what the program needs in order to provide for the children.  The DOE needs to regulate the gifted program to make sure that they are receiving appropriate and equal education throughout the commonwealth. Teachers and others who are experts in education should be the only ones allowed to change the gifted education plan. Annual approval will not allow for time to know and understand the program before changes are made. It also provides for inconsistent services. A 5-year plan allows for consistency and time to contemplate necessary changes. Also, funds should be provided for the gifted education program, not to be used any other way. We need to provide quality services for children in the gifted education program, not make it harder for them by allowing their funds to be used elsewhere and have people on the school board who know nothing about education make the decisions.