Your proposed changes to essentially move the oversight of gifted education from the State to the County level would severely hamper the quality of gifted education in the state of Virginia.  My children are fortunate enough to attend an outstanding center based gifted program in Chesterfield County that exists today through the tremendous foresight of a previous School Board and Superintendent.  It is a model program for many school districts.  However, students with special interests are always vulnerable to naysayers and budget cuts.  Each superintendent and every elected school board official has his/her own views on specialty programs and the need for gifted education.  Your proposals would leave gifted education to the whim of elected officials jeopardizing quality education for the brightest children of our state.  These children deserve the same security of a quality education that meets their needs as the state provides to children with learning disabilities.

It makes no sense to allow the local school district to move from a 5 year gifted education plan to a 1 year gifted education plan.  Do you know of any business that successfully operates under a 1 year business plan?  Indeed, banks would refuse to lend money to such an institution, knowing failure was imminent.  One has to wonder at your own shortsightedness.

Please do not adopt the proposed changes to the regulations as they are detrimental to the education of gifted children.

Kathleen Martin, concerned parent