If you are a special education student in the US your needs are required to be met by US law. Gifted/Talented/High-Ability students are not covered. The only fund at the federal level for gifted students are for research into serving disadvantaged (poor, limited-English proficient, disabled, etc.) gifted students. These funds, known as the Javits Act or Javits program, are zeroed out in the 2010 federal budget.
Every year we (the National Association for Gifted Children, the Council for Exceptional Children, and dedicated parents and teachers) have to fight against a reduction or a zeroing out. The program needs a minimum of $7.5 million a year. In the scheme of things, this is a pittance and doesn't make up for the unfairness of a system that doesn't support every learner.
There are less than 24 hours to contact members of the House Appropriations Committee to get the money added back to the 2010 budget before it goes to the floor. Please go to FundGiftedEducation.com to write your representative - especially if they are member of the Appropriations Committee.
Things to emphasize in your letter:
- Please reinstate funding in fiscal year 2010 for the Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act with at least $7.5 million.
- Use funds currently designated as earmarks for local special projects to fund the Javits Act.
- This is the only federally funded national program that benefits disadvantaged high-ability children in every community.