Good News for Gifted Students in Indiana Schools
Here is some good news from Virginia H. Burney, President, Indiana Association for the Gifted:
Governor Mitch Daniels has signed Senate Bill 408; beginning July 1, 2007, it is a requirement that all Indiana school corporations identify students of high ability in the general intellectual and specific academic domains and provide them with appropriately differentiated curriculum and instruction in areas of core content in grades K-12. In addition to this bill, the Indiana General Assembly passed a state budget that includes $13,000,000 per year for High Ability Services. This is more than twice the $5.8 million received for the current school year.
It is thanks to the hard work of the volunteers of Indiana Association for the Gifted for nearly 30 years, the effective testimony and the contacting of legislators by many members to let them know how much this was needed that has resulted in these changes that will positively impact the futures of many children and our state. Please be sure to thank all legislators for their support. Encourage others to join IAG in order to stay abreast of events, research, and efforts related to the education of gifted children. Dues are $25 per year; membership information may be found at http://www.iag-online.org/
When I read this earlier today, my jaw hit the floor. All Indiana school districts must now provide services for gifted students, Kindergarten to 12th grade. More than twice the budget of past years. What amazing news! I can't wait to see how that money is put to good use!
Here's the bill:
Senate Bill 0408
Governor Mitch Daniels has signed Senate Bill 408; beginning July 1, 2007, it is a requirement that all Indiana school corporations identify students of high ability in the general intellectual and specific academic domains and provide them with appropriately differentiated curriculum and instruction in areas of core content in grades K-12. In addition to this bill, the Indiana General Assembly passed a state budget that includes $13,000,000 per year for High Ability Services. This is more than twice the $5.8 million received for the current school year.
It is thanks to the hard work of the volunteers of Indiana Association for the Gifted for nearly 30 years, the effective testimony and the contacting of legislators by many members to let them know how much this was needed that has resulted in these changes that will positively impact the futures of many children and our state. Please be sure to thank all legislators for their support. Encourage others to join IAG in order to stay abreast of events, research, and efforts related to the education of gifted children. Dues are $25 per year; membership information may be found at http://www.iag-online.org/
When I read this earlier today, my jaw hit the floor. All Indiana school districts must now provide services for gifted students, Kindergarten to 12th grade. More than twice the budget of past years. What amazing news! I can't wait to see how that money is put to good use!
Here's the bill:
Senate Bill 0408
posted by Carissa @ 9:05 PM
5 Comments:
At 6:41 AM, May 04, 2007 ,
Unknown said...
Shouldn't they focus more on the kids who are struggling though
At 7:20 AM, May 04, 2007 ,
Anonymous said...
Well, as a mom of a gifted student, no.
ALL the focus is usually on the kids who are struggling. That's the whole point of "no child left behind" isn't it? Schools already get TONS of funding for remedial programs. EVERY school has services for kids who are behind. Not all schools offer curriculum differentiation for kids who are ahead. This new law says they must do so. In some other states, kids who are tested as "high ability learners" get an IEP, just like a child who is in need or remediation.
How is it fair that many teachers spend a great deal of time trying to drag the kids who are behind up to the level of the rest of the class, while ignoring the needs of those who are advanced? Then the gifted kids sit bored in class, making no progress and losing interest, they tune out, and sometimes become trouble makers. If they aren't challenged up to their potential, how can they learn anything and what's the point of putting them in school?
There's a post several months ago on my blog about Indiana's drop out rates. It notes that many of the kids who are dropping out actually have passing grades at the time they quit school. Many of those kids are dropping out because they are simply bored in school.
At 10:54 AM, May 05, 2007 ,
Unknown said...
As long as they can do the No Child Left Behind thing. My niece was pretty much pushed through the system and it was middle school before she learned how to read. Now our school does do an alpha program for the gifted children. Not sure who funds it but the lady I sit for says her son is in it because the teachers from his second grade kept calling and saying he should be in it. Because he made all A's in second. Now of course he's getting D's and could care less about school.
Don't get me wrong I'm not arguing with you, yes they need to make school challenging to keep kids from getting bored and I'm glad they are funding it.
Personally I wish they were throw more funding into the lunch program, ours sucks by the way and I think it costs too much.
At 4:27 PM, May 05, 2007 ,
Anonymous said...
We have Chartwells lunches, which seems pretty decent. They get two choices and I think there is a bar with fresh fruits and veggies too. It's $1.50 per day. Not sure how that compares to other schools.
At 12:31 PM, May 07, 2007 ,
Unknown said...
Ours is 1.75 a day and you get a main course, two sides, and a milk. Sounds good right, yes til they throw in a main course that is a giant pretzle or chili cheese fries. lol
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