I am the parent of a Gifted child in the Chesapeake City Public Schools.  In the last year, I have been very impressed with the mental growth my son has demonstrated since attending the G.A.T.E. Laboratory School for the Gifted.  When I heard they were doing away with the Lab school and try to Gifted-Certify teachers to serve the students needs in their  home schools, I thought it was alot to take on in a year's time, yet I generally support the idea.  The addition of these UNNECCESARY and COUNTER PRODUCTIVE changes in Gifted Education regulations forthe State of Virginia, however, really has me concerned about the quality of his education in the future.  Anyone who has a gifted learner knows how distressing it is to see them struggle to get what he or she needs to fully thrive in school.  We support the schools both financially through taxes and fundraisers, and physically through our volunteerism just as any other parent does.  We pay our share of taxes to ensure OUR children, who also have special needs, get the supplementation they require to support their academic growth. 

The needs of the gifted are not the same needs as those of special education students, but they are as important. 

As a matter of fact, I would suggest that many of these advanced and out-of-the-box learners will likely be the strongest advocates for the advancement of many physically and mentally challenged individuals we support today.  It will take all the skills and creative thinking we can harness to advance the development of the treatments and cures we seek now and in the future.  That might be a kid like mine.  Please give him every opportunity to make that happen by NOT supporting the proposed revisions in the Regulations Governing Educational Services for Gifted Students. 

More specifically we need to ensure that...

1. Each local school division shall submit to the Department of Education for approval a plan, developed on a 5-year basis, for the education of gifted students to ensure that the regulations are being followed.
2. State funds administered by the DOE for the education of gifted students shall be used only to support those activities identified in the school division's plan as approved by the Board of Education (BOE).

Thank You,

Jennifer D. Hopkins