It is important that parents and school personnel be reassured that state funds allocated to gifted instruction must be used only in this manner.  Whether this is already insured by other regulations or not, it should be repeated here.

Reducing the span covered by a local plan for gifted education from 5 years to 1 year only provides the opportunity for ad hoc experimentation without reasoned consideration of the needs and capabilities of students and educators.  As gifted students ourselves in the 1960s who experienced frequent changes in the provision of gifted services, services provided without much basis in research, we have seen firsthand the results of such a system.  Please ensure greater continuity and planfulness by retaining the 5-year plan which incorporates the need for annual reviews.  This lessens the burden of paperwork and committee meetings, leaving our educators freer to educate!  At the same time, it provides the opportunity to review and change something that isn't meeting students' needs.