I am concerned that local authorities are not going to be forced to conform with the DOE guidelines as five-year plans for approval.  As I understand this, we maintain quality control with this outside review process. Locally our school board members are not considered experts in the field of gifted education and in the current economic climate I fear they will redirect slated funding if given control over alotted "gifted" monies.  This regulatory language protects the funding for gifted program services and I would think all communities in VA with gifted programs will become subject to pilfering of alotted program funds if the language is not reworked to provide a indemnable safeguard.  I myself do not currently have any children receiving gifted services, but feel strongly that the public must support these children needs.