| Advocacy/ Legal Updates |
No Child Left Behind
Federal Government Link
Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little. -- Edmund Burke |
| Please Help Keep us informed! Contact WVAGT with issues that affect us all! |
Federal Stimulus Funds Available for Gifted & Talented Services and Programs
Gifted education supporters should be advocating with their local school district leaders to spend a portion of the
federal stimulus money to support gifted and talented programs and services. The U.S. Department of Education has
begun to distribute funds for K-12 and higher education, and at least two of the funding streams -- the State
Stabilization Fund and Title I funds -- could be used to suport gifted education students. Stabilization funds could be
used to restore budget cuts and teacher positions, or the funds could be used to expand or create new services.
Title I funds could be used to support gifted students from low-income families. Additionally, gifted education
advocates should know that $100 million in stimulus funds will support Teacher Quality Partnership grants in Title II of
the Higher Education Act, which will require university teacher preparation programs to increase new teachers'
exposure to the needs of gifted and talented students.
Funding for the Javits Gifted & Talented Students Education Act
Funding for the Javits Act in fiscal year 2010 is nearly secured. The Senate appropriations committee
included $7.46 million for the program in the bill it approved on July 30. The bill must now go to the full
Senate for its approval.
In the House of Representatives, a final fiscal year 2010 Labor/HHS/Education bill has been approved that
included the same level of funding -- $7.46 million -- for the program. Funding won't be finalized until after
the full Senate approves its bill and the House and Senate work out differences in funding levels in other
programs in their separate bills, which may take well into the fall. The funding level is sufficient to continue
the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented as well as the competitive grants. There is not
enough money, however, to provide for statewide grants.
We would not have had this success without the consistent efforts of advocates around the country. Your
work over the years to educate Members of Congress has resulted in new supporters who see the value in
retaining the sole federal program addressing the needs of gifted learners. Your efforts also confirm that
Congress does respond to constituents. Recall that 50 Representatives and 18 Senators co-signed letters
urging their respective appropriations committees to provide at least $11.25 million for the Javits program.
(Click here to read the House Javits funding letter). We have more work to do to expand our support, but
we have an excellent foundation for future action.
Gifted education supporters should be advocating with their local school district leaders to spend a portion of the
federal stimulus money to support gifted and talented programs and services. The U.S. Department of Education has
begun to distribute funds for K-12 and higher education, and at least two of the funding streams -- the State
Stabilization Fund and Title I funds -- could be used to suport gifted education students. Stabilization funds could be
used to restore budget cuts and teacher positions, or the funds could be used to expand or create new services.
Title I funds could be used to support gifted students from low-income families. Additionally, gifted education
advocates should know that $100 million in stimulus funds will support Teacher Quality Partnership grants in Title II of
the Higher Education Act, which will require university teacher preparation programs to increase new teachers'
exposure to the needs of gifted and talented students.
Funding for the Javits Gifted & Talented Students Education Act
Funding for the Javits Act in fiscal year 2010 is nearly secured. The Senate appropriations committee
included $7.46 million for the program in the bill it approved on July 30. The bill must now go to the full
Senate for its approval.
In the House of Representatives, a final fiscal year 2010 Labor/HHS/Education bill has been approved that
included the same level of funding -- $7.46 million -- for the program. Funding won't be finalized until after
the full Senate approves its bill and the House and Senate work out differences in funding levels in other
programs in their separate bills, which may take well into the fall. The funding level is sufficient to continue
the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented as well as the competitive grants. There is not
enough money, however, to provide for statewide grants.
We would not have had this success without the consistent efforts of advocates around the country. Your
work over the years to educate Members of Congress has resulted in new supporters who see the value in
retaining the sole federal program addressing the needs of gifted learners. Your efforts also confirm that
Congress does respond to constituents. Recall that 50 Representatives and 18 Senators co-signed letters
urging their respective appropriations committees to provide at least $11.25 million for the Javits program.
(Click here to read the House Javits funding letter). We have more work to do to expand our support, but
we have an excellent foundation for future action.