THINK Summer Institute

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Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act - The House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees have included $7.6 million for the Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act in their Fiscal Year 2008 budget. This funding almost certainly will be signed into law. As reported in the last edition of the eNews-Update, Senators Grassley (IA) and Dodd (CT) had been seeking $11.25 million for Javits, which would have matched the program’s 2002 amount. To learn more, please visit the National Association of Gifted Children’s (NAGC) Legislative Update page.

Legislation that would create a grant for states to support gifted and talented students is in the works. Rep. Gallegly (CA-24), a long-time gifted supporter, recently introduced H.R. 2925 (PDF), which would build on grants and research developed through Javits, ultimately supporting gifted programs and services. To learn more, please visit NAGC’s Legislative Update page.

Higher Education Authorization Bill - A bill requiring teacher preparation institutions to train teachers about the unique needs of gifted and talented students was passed by the U.S. Senate on July 24, 2007. Senator Chuck Grassley (IA) helped shape the Higher Education Authorization Bill, with provisions requiring institutions that receive grants to reform their curriculum and ensure prospective teachers are prepared to instruct the gifted and talented. To learn more, please view the press release on Sen. Grassley’s website.

ALABAMA - As part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Education Budget, passed in May, funding for gifted and talented education has increased from zero to $2.34 million, as of October 1, 2007. Sources: The Decatur Daily, Alabama Department of Education (PDF)

COLORADO - With HB07-1244 having passed through both houses of the Colorado General Assembly last session in Spring 2007, and signed by Gov. Bill Ritter in June, for the first time, it is mandatory that all state administrative units adopt and implement a program plan to identify and serve gifted children. Sources: Colorado Department of Education, Colorado General Assembly, Greeley Tribune

ILLINOIS - Gifted programming has been restored to the Illinois School Code. In addition, gifted education now has its own line item in the State Board of Education budget (per Illinois Public Act 95-348), with dollars allocated toward gifted and talented education increasing from zero to $5 million. Source: Illinois Association for Gifted Children

IOWA - Thanks to a $400,000 Department of Education grant given to the University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, Iowa students have additional opportunities to participate in Advanced Placement courses and exams. The grant will aid the Iowa Online Advanced Placement Academy, a component of the Belin-Blank Center. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen

MINNESOTA - Effective July 1, school districts are now required to implement policies and procedures for academic acceleration of gifted and talented students, signifying historic progress for gifted education in the state. In addition, per-pupil gifted and talented funding has increased. Source: Minnesota Department of Education

NEVADA - With the recent passing of Assembly Bill 553, the state of gifted education has significantly improved. For Fiscal Year 2007-2008, $800,000 is being allocated for gifted and talented students in Nevada’s 17 school districts. In addition, a gifted and talented coordinator position was created in the State Department of Education. Source: Nevada Legislature (PDF)

NEW YORK - A plan to renovate New York City’s gifted and talented programs is underway. Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein recently proposed limiting the program to only those who score in the top 5 percent on admissions tests. Also, a new test to identify the gifted, the Bracken School Readiness Assessment, will be implemented in elementary school programs. Sources: The New York Times, Newsday

PENNSYLVANIA - The Early College Program at Allegany College of Maryland’s Bedford County (Pennsylvania) Campus has received a donation of $50,000 from Susquehanna Bank made through Pennsylvania's Education Improvement Tax Credit Program. The program provides gifted high schoolers the opportunity to learn at a rate matched to their advanced academic needs. Source: Cumberland Times-News

TENNESSEE - Gifted education in Tennessee is taking a step forward with a recent $2.2 million investment in the Tennessee Governor’s Academy. Gov. Phil Bredesen, who supported the school’s creation, stressed the need to “spend time and effort on kids who have abilities and make sure they don't get lost." Source: The Tennessean

How gifted-friendly is your state? Find out at: Gifted Education Policies.  
If you know of new legislation, please let us know.  Contact: The Communications Team

November 1, 2007 - ABC, News 10 Sacramento, Short-changing Our Brightest Students (Video) (Neil Swidey)
October 28, 2007 - The Boston Globe, Rush, Little Baby (Neil Swidey)
October 18, 2007 - The Times Herald, Gifted students need more options, report says (Bobby Ampezzan)
September 25, 2007 - EducationWeek (Free Subscription), No Child Gets Ahead (Anthony P. Carnevale)
September 17, 2007 - The American, Defining Achievement Downward (Phil Brand and James Dellinger)
September 14, 2007 - The Washington Post, Gifted Education: Plenty to Discuss, Plenty to Debate (Jay Mathews)
September 13, 2007 - The Des Moines Register, Grief inspires teen (Mary Challender)
September 10, 2007 - The Sacramento Bee, Girl genius with a flare of generosity (Cynthia Hubert)
August 27, 2007 - The Washington Post, The Gifted Children Left Behind (Susan Goodkin and David G. Gold)
August 17, 2007 - The Wall Street Journal, Students at Risk: How High-IQ Kids Are Neglected in School (Kim Oakley)
August 16, 2007 - Time Magazine, Are We Failing Our Geniuses? (John Cloud)

Read more news on the gifted and talented.

10,000 Ideas in the Land of 10,000 Lakes - NAGC's 54^th Annual National Convention
The National Association for Gifted Children will hold its 54th Annual Convention November 7-11 in Minneapolis, Minn. More than 350 sessions for educators, experts, and parents have been booked, with Dean Keith Simonton providing the opening keynote and Garrison Keillor to close.

Professor Miraca Gross
Gifted Educator and Researcher

Having worked in the field of gifted education for almost 30 years, Professor Miraca U. M. Gross’s expertise is unmatched. An author and scholar, Dr. Gross has won numerous international research awards and served in a variety of gifted and talented leadership positions. Her passion to make an impact on the lives of gifted students serves as an inspiration for advocates across the world.

Born in Scotland but having spent the majority of her life in Australia, Dr. Gross’s career began as a general education teacher. She went on to teach for 22 years, 12 of which she spent as a specialist in gifted and talented education.

After teaching gifted students for six years in a variety of special programs, Dr. Gross saw the need for additional research on the needs of this population. She founded Australia’s State Association for Gifted Children in 1978. Seven years later, she was given a full scholarship for a master's degree in gifted education from Purdue University in Indiana. In 1997, she established, and became the director of, the Gifted Education Research, Resource and Information Center (GERRIC) at the University of New South Wales.

Some of Dr. Gross’s eminent accomplishments include: Winning the Hollingworth Award for Excellence in Research in the Education and Psychology of the Gifted in 1987 (the first non-American to do so); receiving the Mensa International Education and Research Foundation Awards for Excellence in 1988 and 1990; and being honored with NAGC’s Early Scholar Award in 1995 and NAGC's Distinguished Scholar Award in 2005.

Dr. Gross served as President of the Gifted and Talented Children's Association of South Australia for six years. She also served on the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children from 1995-1999.

Dr. Gross facilitated a number of studies on the gifted, most notably a longitudinal study on the social and emotional development of 60 highly gifted Australian children. She has recently been examining the findings of major longitudinal studies in gifted education, noting that despite improvements, there is still a long way to go. In that regard, she helped inspire The John Templeton Foundation to provide GERRIC with a grant to investigate a lack of acceleration in schools.

Through innovation and dedication Dr. Gross has helped make a difference in the lives of many academically gifted students, and we hope she will continue to do so for years to come.

"As the world becomes increasingly competitive, the United States is falling behind other countries in research and development. This is exactly why our society needs to encourage students such as the Davidson Fellows. It’s not only the right thing to do for the students, it is the right thing to do for society. If we support their passion for knowledge and desire to achieve, there is no telling how far they can go."

~ Bob Davidson, 2007 Davidson Fellows Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C.