What's New
The Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented grants program received
$7.6 million for FY 2008, the same amount of funding that it
received in FY 2007.
from the The U. S. Department of Education page
A new discretionary grant competition will be held this year for the
Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program.
Please check their site (Ed.gov)periodically for updates.
Funding Status
2007
Appropriation: $7,596,070
Number of New Awards Anticipated: 0
Number of Continuation Awards Anticipated: 19
Average Continuation Award: $300.000
Range of Continuation Awards: $200,000-$400,000
NAGC on Javits Grants
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Gifted Education Advocates Take Message to Washington
Increased funding, greater focus on teacher training
and meeting student needs, top legislative agenda
WASHINGTON, DC (March 3, 2008) - Advocates for West Virginia’s approximately 5000 gifted and
talented students have converged on Capitol Hill to urge Members of Congress to reverse decades
of neglect by redoubling the federal government's commitment to and investment in gifted
education.
West Virginia leaders Christine Smith, (Pocahontas County) and Megan Sheeley (Pendleton
County) were among the more than 55 gifted education advocates from throughout the country
taking part in the National Association for Gifted Children's annual advocacy event.
"It is imperative that our lawmakers and other decision makers recognize that today's gifted
students will be tomorrow's innovators and that an investment in gifted education is an investment
in America's future," said Nancy Green, Executive Director of NAGC.
Of every $100 Congress allocated for education, just 2.6 cents is invested in gifted education. This
underinvestment comes at a time when American school students continue to be outperformed by
counterparts in developing nations, especially in the critically important subjects of science,
technology and math. One of three graduate students in the United States is born in another
country.
"This lack of leadership at the federal level trickles down and fosters an atmosphere of malaise at
the state and local levels which too often leads to misguided decisions to cut or gut gifted
education programs despite their records of success," said Dr. Del Siegle, President of the National
Association for Gifted Children, which organized the advocacy event.
While in Washington, West Virginia’s gifted and talented education leaders joined colleagues from
across the nation to urge Congress to support:
• Increased funding for the only federal program that addresses how to identify and serve
disadvantaged gifted students;
• Ensuring that the accountability provisions of NCLB include gifted and talented learners; and
• A greater focus on training teachers so they are able to appropriately meet the needs of
gifted students in their classrooms.
Nancy Green stated, "The time is now for Washington to lead by example and make a greater
investment in our nation's brightest children. Our nation's future depends on it.”