Give gifted kids what they deserve

The Fordham Institute's recent report on gifted education didn't go unnoticed among leaders in Tallahassee.

"I agree with the underlying premise," said state Rep. John Legg, vice chairman of the House K-12 Committee. "The gifted kids are not getting the attention they deserve because the focus is being placed elsewhere. ... We're becoming the champions of mediocrity."

Legg tried to change Florida's gifted education laws so they would ensure all parents have equal access to information about course offerings and have all schools report how they spend their funding for gifted education. The National Association for Gifted Children applauded the effort behind HB 297, which died in what Legg called the "political crossfire of session."

He plans to revive the idea, noting it had bipartisan support in the House, at least. "It's the first bill I'm going to file if I get reelected," Legg told the Gradebook. "We've got it drafted and ready to go."

Comments

[kurt]

Well my son is gifted and is pulled out of class once a week but the living boundaries are not true because the school that he goes to for his gifted track is not in my living area he is taken there by bus.

Theron,
I have never heard of a school requiring the gifted students to live in the zone. I would recheck my facts and get info from the horse's mouth before going the legal route.

[Theron White]

Most Orange County elementary schools offer weekly (weakly) pull-out classes for gifted, with only two schools in the entire county offering full-time programs.

To attend the full-time programs, students must live within the attendance boundaries of the full-time gifted schools.

Offhand, that appears to be really unfair -- an unequal access to education.

Is there any one reading my comment who knows if this practice is illegal or challengeable in court?

I invite your reply to theronwhite@abbmail.com.

Theron White

[No news to Florida leaders]

Many of the "leaders" in Florida's education system were made aware of the poor learning gains of the gifted
years ago....by me. Dr. Yecke tried to help. End of story.

If you don't like the constitution then change it. I thought it was conservative Republicans who didn't like the courts "expanding" the document to meet their beliefs.

[Last American Standing]

I think the issue over class size would go away if gifted students were given the choice of going private with a McKay Scholarship. Not all of them would take it, but some would. As not all McKay eligible students take it now. Some of the McKay eligible are gifted too. What are you afraid of.

7:24 Have you ever been to a restaurant that offers really great food but you just couldn't get the most out of your experience because the people next to you wouldn't stop their kid from screaming? This is what your daughter's classroom is like. Sometimes it's not what's being offered, but who's there taking part in it. Just a friendly thought from a public school teacher who went to private school as a kid and has seen both sides. Best of luck to you.

Dear Last American Standing,

The school system does not own your tax dollars, but under the Florida Constitution, the citizens of the state have said that they do not want THEIR tax dollars supporting private schools. They want the public schools to be properly funded. Words such as "paramont duty," "adequate provision," and "high quality" speak to the responsibility that the public wants the Legislature to put into this endevour. In addition, the Constituion requires that the Legisalture provide enough state general revenue dollars as an increase to either meet the Constitutional class size limits or to reduce the average class sizes by 2 students per year. They clearly failed to live up to this responsibility. Instead, the Legislature has responded by cutting over 15% of state funding from public education in a short 14 month period.

If you want better services, demand proper funding. Hell, if you even want the services that you have, demand proper funding. Where we are now is people complaining about where the system is now while the Legisalture says that the people would rather have additional service cuts than tax increases.

[Last American Standing]

You are correct in saying these are our tax dollars, but the education establishment thinks they own them and are the only people that can provide a quality education. I'm sorry your child's father received an inferior education, but you can't paint all schools based on that experience. I would suggest you look around and be objective and allow other taxpayers to have their say in how their money is spent. If they think it's better then good for them!

I believe in public education. My child's father went to private school, while I went to public. He recieved a far inferior education. Besides, the private schools in our county do not have very good reputations. Also, it is a sad state of affairs when people say that the only way for a bright child to get what he/she needs is to go to private school. These are our tax dollars and I want a system that meets all children's needs.

[Last American Standing]

Why not extend the McKay Scholarship to all students with an IEP? That would include gifted students. That way parents could select from a wider offering of schools to meet their child's needs. Students wouldn't be pigeon holed into the programs offered, i.e. only Math and Science programs at middle school levels. This wouldn't add additional costs to the state but provide an immediate offering of options for gifted students.

6:59:
I think what your child's teachers mean is that they don't have time during student contact time to attend to your child in a way that is appropriate for her needs. With the push for ESE inclusion, teachers' attention is unfortunately needed most for students with academic and behavioral deficiencies instead of children like yours. Put your kid in private school. They don't put up with the other nonsense there!

The study points to a very serious problem. As a parent of a gifted child, I have watched my child's educational needs be completely ignored. Her teachers have told me they don't have time to plan specifically for her because they have to plan for the kids who are the lowest in their class. This has happened year after year, regardless of how much I complain.

The report was very specific as to where the learning is happening and where it isn't. That old myth that gifted learners will learn in any setting is just that...a myth. When the legislature is mandating how teachers teach, they need to consider that most high ability students do not need 90 minutes of reading everyday. AND 30 minutes be taught ON grade level, even if the student is one or two years above grade level. These sweeping mandates do not take into consideration these learners...at all.

Thank you Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist, Ken Pruitt, Marco Rubio and the Republican Party of Florida!!!

Remember in November.

If they provide proper funding (a cut of nearly 16% of GR between the 2007 regular session budget for schools and the final 2008-2009 fiscal year budget after an additional 4% of GR is withheld for public schools including cuts to the ESE Guaranteed Allocation that funds most gifted education is not proper funding) will result in exactly what gifted students and all students seem to deserve . . . poor educational services. If they want more/better/the best they should provide slightly better than AVERAGE per student funding instead of the worst/lowest/cheapest. I like how they complain about the quality of services while they are cutting the budgets. If the citizens want better gifted services, they should elect legislators who are willing to fund better public schools.