Do not adopt the propsed regulations.

As a parent of two children receiving services under the gifted program, I adamantly support the opinions of the gifted coordinators in each jurisdiction, the VAG, and the Virginia Consortium of Gifted Education Administrators for each of their stated reasons.

The basic standards of learning do not provide the rigor or depth that Virginia gifted students NEED to feel a sense of purpose and worthiness in their educational endeavors.  We must continue to allow dedicated funding for the gifted programs and continue to support the peer review process for the 5-yr plans.

The revisions were created without input from critical stakeholders.   As stated in Program Administration:  Exploring Guiding Principle 3 of the NAGC Pre-K -- Grade 12 Gifted Program Standards:  "Gifted education programming must reflect collaboration and alignment with the major educational agencies and stakeholder groups at the district, regional, state, and national levels." 

Collaboration is an important key element that was missing when the revisions were created.