Gifted program serves a vital need for children who would otherwise languish in mainstream classrooms. Don't sacrifice the needs of our brightest children naivley assuming they don't need anything other than mainstream experiences because they'll "be fine whatever" -- they won't. I am a product of gifted eduacation programs, and keenly felt disheartened and undernourished in the few mainstreen classes I did take. Did you read the Newsweek artical about this very topic over the summer? Virginia, with its wealth and smarts, needs to postion itself as a leader in championing these kinds of programs, not weakening them to the point where they could disolve away. Thanks for your consideration.