We have been very happy with the opportunities afforded our daughter by the gifted education program at her school.  We are afraid, and unfortunately fairly sure, that the proposed changes to the regulations surrounding this program will diminish these opportunities, constrain TAG teachers, and place undue burden on local school boards.  The proposed changes will impact the design of these programs by moving approval from the state department of education to local school boards, and while these school boards operate with the best interest of students in mind, the must do so with all students and do so with administrative obligations in the forefront of their priorities.  These changes will divert needed expertise away from these programs, expertise that is available in the state department of education, leaving the approval of these programs up to individuals serving the school system but not necessarily of an educator’s background.  This will be a negative impact in that it will sacrifice the connection the state level body has in understanding and networking with education systems across the country to ensure the best direction is taken for the TAG students is taken, this is an unrealistic and unlikely burden for local school boards to assume or effectively manage, especially when their concerns lie with the entirety of the local school system and not specifically with TAG students.  Furthermore the transition from a 5 year plan to yearly will foster an environment in which plans and direction are begun and aborted before true evaluation of their utility can be formed.  For these reasons I ask that you reject the proposed changes.