PACE   Parents and Community for Excellence

Here's an urgent message from Jane Clarenbach, J.D.
Director, Public Education & Affiliate Relations
National Association for Gifted Children

Good evening, I hope you're well.

We have great news to share, but it will require speedy action on your part if we're to succeed.

Senator Charles Grassley (Iowa) is offering an amendment on the Senate floor to S.761, the America COMPETES Act, that would create a dedicated funding stream for the Javits program.  If we're successful, the Javits program will not have to fight annually for funding, which of course will allow us to turn our attention to quality programs and services.

THE SENATE IS VOTING ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY (4/24 & 25) ON AMENDMENTS; THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN THE GRASSLEY AMENDMENT WILL COME UP.  THEREFORE, WE NEED YOU TO EMAIL OR CALL BOTH YOUR SENATORS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT (See below for more info on the message).

S.761 is a bill similar to several from last year that focuses on math & science education and teacher training as part of the solution to the competitiveness concern.  Resources from the Department of Energy would be used to help states pay for math/science high schools.  Internships would be available at the Energy laboratories for middle & high school students.

Senator Grassley's amendment would support advanced U.S. students by increasing the fees charged for H-1B visas and dedicate that funding stream to the Javits program.  The H-1B visas are visas for highly skilled foreign workers to come to the U.S. to fill high-tech, engineering & medical jobs, among others.  

In essence, we're taking the funds that companies invest in highly skilled international talent and reinvesting that money in U.S. talent.

Below is a draft "form" letter that you may copy & paste into emails to your Senators or use as talking points if you choose to call.  If your Senator(s) has been supportive of gifted children in the past (e.g., he/she has co-signed Javits "Dear Colleague" letters, co-signed other legislation), please be sure to add that in your emails.  ("thank you for your previous support for the nation's gifted students, I ask you to continue that support")

Senate email addresses and phone numbers are available at http://www.senate.gov.  PLEASE SEND EMAILS TO YOUR TWO SENATORS ON TUESDAY.  Please share this email with your listserves, too.

Note that NAGC and CEC are working on this amendment together; you can use the CEC legislative action center to send the same message (or use the link to the action center in emails you send to your friends and other gifted ed supporters).  That link is http://capwiz.com/cek/home/

Thank you for your assistance!

Jane

Jane Clarenbach, J.D.
Director, Public Education & Affiliate Relations
National Association for Gifted Children
202-785-4268
www.nagc.org <http://www.nagc.org>

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Dear Senator


As your constituent, I urge you to support an amendment offered by Senator Grassley that will ensure that the America COMPETES Act (S. 761) fulfills its mission by making additional funding available for the Javits Gifted and Talented Act. The most effective way for the United States to compete globally is to invest in America¹s most advanced learners. However, throughout our country, the educational needs of approximately three million students with academic gifts and talents go unmet; reports indicate that up to 20% of these students drop out of school.  Unfortunately, most of our nation¹s schools remain under-prepared to meet the needs of the highly able students in their classrooms.  By neglecting them, we put our country at a disadvantage to effectively compete in the global marketplace.

The Grassley H-1B visa amendment supports the ambitious and critical goals of the America COMPETES Act ­ to invest in innovation and education to ensure that America remains competitive in the global marketplace ­ by generating new funding to support the Javits Act. The Javits Act is the only federal program dedicated to identifying and educating students with gifts and talents. Specifically, the Grassley amendment would generate new income for the Javits program by increasing the H-1B visa fee, which is paid for by companies that hire highly skilled international workers typically working in specialty occupations such as engineering, computer programming, medicine and architecture. By allocating this income to the Javits program, Congress is investing in and nurturing America¹s most advanced learners.  

Since 1989 the Javits program -- a small program by federal standards -- has been providing essential resources for the education of our nation¹s most advanced learners. Countless numbers of students and educators have benefited from the practical resources that the Javits program has provided, including the development of high-level curricula, training teachers in research-based classroom strategies that includes acceleration and differentiation; supporting research, and initiating projects that reach out to children from disadvantaged backgrounds who have been plagued by low expectations.  Programs funded under the Javits program seek to match the abilities of a student with a curriculum that is based on their educational needs rather than their age.  

Despite the nationwide gains that have been made by the Javits Act, the program received less than $10 million in FY 2007. Fostering the education of America¹s most advanced learners must become a national priority that is supported by Congress.  Therefore, I urge you to support the Grassley H-1B amendment to S.761.

Thank you for your consideration of my request. I look forward to your response.  
 

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APRIL 18, 2007

INVITATION FOR "PLEASE, DON'T LEAVE OUR CHILDREN BEHIND" DAY - SPRINGFIELD DAY