Fw: IAGC - ISBE Budget Hearings

If you have a child in grammar school that is advanced you should check out this site. Its not the best I have seen but this is where I got help with Tyler. When we moved out here Tyler was in 2nd grade and the work the school was giving him was work he had done in kindergarten and 1st at his previous schools. Tyler was very upset about school and I was getting very frustrated Of course I did work with him at home, as I always have. In school, however, this was something different. What did it help for my child to spend 6 hours going over 85% of the stuff he already knew? The school insisted that they could not promote him to 3rd grade because of some new law. Also although his mind was advanced in some things, he was still very immature and would disrupt a class with older children When Tyler entered the 3rd grade, the school called me about a program called project arrow. They were going to give it a trial run, as they had a few other kids like Tyler and needed my permission. Of course I was all for it! Today Tyler is in 4th grade and taking 5th grade ADVANCED reading and math. He is a straight A student and this program also challenges his imagination and encourages him to be a child. Finally he is happy in school. Now Taylor is heading on the same path but at least I know I wont have the same frustration as I did before Check out this program and if your school doesn't offer it, tell them about it. Project Arrow is WONDERFUL and its the best thing to happen to my kids. I now have something in their school that understands not all kids learn at the same pace, I now have a site that I can go to for more information on gifted children and I have other parents that understand what its like to have a 9 year old that can do 9th grade algebra but then cry when you tell him to clean his room -------Original Message------- Subject: IAGC - ISBE Budget Hearings For those of you that may not be on the Illinois Association of Gifted Children (IAGC), www.iagcgifted.org, email list, please read the following important news. ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN =============================================== Illinois State Board of Education FY 2008 Budget Hearings The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is holding Budget Hearings across the state. Julie Luck Jensen, outgoing President of IAGC, and five parents testified at a hearing on November 2nd in Des Plaines on behalf of gifted students requesting an increase in the budget allocation for gifted education. The parents told their own stories about how public education was not able to meet the unique needs of their gifted children. Julie Luck Jensen addressed the issue of low income/high potential students and referenced the recent report by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, The Achievement Trap. The three ISBE board members present acknowledged the fact that $5 million is not enough funding and that they have heard from many supporters of gifted education. The line item for gifted education was reinstated at $5 million in 2007 after $19.7 million was eliminated in 2002. Advocates for gifted education have testified at each of the budget hearings across the state and their support is greatly appreciated. IAGC will provide current updates and information as the budget process unfolds. For more information, contact Kris McElligatt, IAGC Advocacy Committee Co-chair, at kmcellig@comcast.net. -------------------------------------------------------------------- If you know of someone that would like to be added to our email distribution list, please have them send their request to papo204@gmail.com with the subject line PLEASE ADD ME. Do also include your name, phone number (in case we have trouble with your email address) and if applicable, the school(s) your PA child(ren) attend in 204.