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           With statistics giving the G/T student population to be roughly 10% of our state’s total population, removing the external review of local plans leaves a large number of children’s education exposed to local inequalities. When you add in those students that may be “dual-identified” (identified as SPED & G/T), the numbers are higher. By eliminating the external reviews and making the planning cycle yearly rather than the current 5-year model, these service models become hostage to the fluctuations of budget cycles and school board personnel changes.

          The VDOE has set Standards of Learning that are meant to keep the expectation of learning consistent throughout the Commonwealth. We would NEVER consider reverting to the days of every locality for itself. Why does this come up in the area of G/T Education?

          There is a great deal of clamor regarding the lack of socio-economic student make-up in our Governor’s Schools and top tier colleges. By reducing the external oversight and long-term planning in G/T services, you are reducing the likelihood that this disparity will be rectified. Studies show that to get children to those choices in high school and college, we need to see them in Advanced Placement courses. The journey to Advanced Placement courses is started in the elementary classroom. The bright children from underprivileged beginnings need to be challenged, they need to see that they can go beyond their beginnings to achieve greatness. The proposed changes leave these children vulnerable to budget cuts and change of focus, rather than unique, supportive services. The external oversight is a way to help these children advance to their potential.

 At the very least, the wording needs to retain external oversight and 5 year planning. At the very best, a commission should be empanelled, comprised of school board members, VDOE advisors, G/T teachers, classroom teachers, administrators and G/T parents to see what can be done to strengthen, overall, the standards of learning for the G/T community of students.