In my opinion, the proposed changes will no nothing to enhance gifted/talented education in the Commonwealth and do not represent a step forward in the ongoing process of determining how best to meet the needs of our most high-achieving students.    What they do accomplish is add layers of paperwork (and cost) with no true discernible benefit to students and no real enhancement of accountability or transparency.  They may, therefore, even have a chilling effect on efforts to identify students and provide services.

   Furthermore, such changes should not be adopted without clear information to interested stakeholders--parents--and an opportunity to comment.  As a parent of two identified gifted/talented children, and as an interested citizen who has observed the evolution of gifted/talented education in Fairfax County over the past 25 years, I feel this input is essential. 

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