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To Become an effective advocate for Gifted Children: - Know the educational terms and the requirements in NJ's public schools for GT. A great source of information on gifted education can be found at www.hoagiesgifted.org new in August 2007, see Pocket Manual for Advocates at www.brightword.com )
- Meet with your school officials (principal, curriculum supervisor, central office- superintendent.) Ask for documentation in writing of the policies of your district that show that gifted services are provided and there is adherence to state code (law.) Go in as a partner, willing to work with the district to effect positive change and to assure your local is in compliance with Administrative Code (school law.) Try to being several parents who care about gifted education to the meeting.
- Get answers to the 20 questions and share them with NJAGC.Do not assume that your child's teachers or your district's administrators have been trained in gifted education. There are no requirements for Highly Qualified teachers of gifted education, nor have teachers of honors, advanced placement or IB necessarily had training in gifted education.
- Do not assume that your child's teachers or your district's administrators have been trained in gifted education. There are no requirements for Highly Qualified teachers of gifted education, nor have teachers of honors, advanced placement or IB necessarily had training in gifted education. Be proactive and provide a book, a membership to NJAGC, or even the fee for a workshop or conference for your child's teacher to attend to learn more about gifted education.
- Come prepared with questions, ask for documentation in writing of your local district's compliance with state requirements. Be prepared to wait for an answer, if the information is not available. Ask for evidence of your child's Adequate Yearly Progress as required in No Child Left Behind. Find out if instruction is data driven and how your school determines a challenge level of instruction for your child. Be specific in your requests for ability aligned instruction and evidence of growth for your child.
- Follow up in writing to thank them for meeting with you. Be sure to include what you heard them say and keep a dated copy. All plans should have time lines so that you can see results. Document all phone calls and meetings and correspondence (with whom, when, where, etc.)
- Attend local school board meetings as a group of concerned parents and ask for documentation identification of and services to gifted students in your district. Request budget planning for professional development in gifted education. Safeguard your program and ask for specific changes or additional staff. Start early and stay focused. Follow up is needed to assure requests are considered.
- If your local district does not accommodate your requests, you may seek help from the county office of the Department of Education. Disputes can go as high as the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education.
- Ask for more help from NJAGC on the forums at www.njagc.org NJAGC supports the formation of local or regional parent groups. Organize meetings for parents and educators in your region.
- What should your district be doing for gifted children?
NJDOE Commissioner of Education, Lucille. Davy, sent a letter to all local Superintendents and county monitors in October, 2005 with the NAGC standards for gifted services included! This document serves as a benchmark to compare minimal and exemplary practices in gifted education in seven categories including professional development, identification, programs, curriculum, etc. The new GT requirements were also included. In addition, there are guidelines for districts to provide a continuum of services to gifted students in the Frameworks documents that support the Core Curriculum Content Standards. Modifications to the NJ Core Curriculum Standards in Frameworks for G/T [offers options for local districts to have a full continuum of services to GT students based on need... find early admission and college courses while still in k-12 suggestions here!] NJ Department of Education PEP: Links for Gifted and Talented Read the information provided by National Association for Gifted Children on How to Be an Effective Advocate:NAGC's Take Five! Advocating for Gifted Programs in Local Schools
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