PACE Weekly Newsletter - August
29, 2007
GREAT NEWS!!!
$5 MILLION IN GIFTED FUNDING HAS PASSED THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET!!! - We
are proud to share Gifted Funding has PASSED the
Governor's Budget and has become law in the State of
Illinois!
This
would not have been possible without:
1. House Republican Leader Tom Cross' efforts
of adding $5 million for Gifted Funding in the House
and Senate budgets in his meetings with Speakers of
House and Senate and the Governor;
2. over
75 parents and children in our Oswego308 School
District who went to Springfield in April, 2007, as
part of IAGC's "Please Don't Leave Our Children
Behind Day," who met with Representative Cross,
emailed, called, and sent him thank you letters; and
3. many
PACE families who emailed and called Representative
Cross.
We
sincerely thank House Republican Leader Tom
Cross, all our parents, and also our
administrators, our Board of Education, our AT
teachers, and our classroom teachers for the
commitment to the programs for these children
who desperately need the support.
Out of
all the parent organizations in the entire state,
PACE organization had the most parents and
children attend IAGC's "Please Don't Leave Our
Children Behind Day" in April, 2007, in
Springfield. As a parent group, PACE had the
biggest impact in the state, and with our numerous
contacts with Representative Cross, we were able to
make this historical passage happen for children
throughout Illinois.
While
the PACE group was in Springfield in April,
we visited historical sites, heard Representative
Tom Cross speak to families from Illinois, saw
government in action by watching legislative
sessions, met with legislators, visited their
offices, toured State Capitol Building, and was
recognized by Representative Cross on the floor of
the Illinois House. Plans are underway for next
year's "Please Don't Leave Our Children Behind Day
2008" in April, 2008! More information will be
coming in January, 2008. Hope you can all join
us for this memorable event that will impact the
future of education!
Below
is information on Funding for Gifted Education that was
recently sent out from Dr. Sally Walker, Executive
Director of IAGC.
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In 2003 the
funding for gifted was rolled into the general education
fund from a categorical grant program. When that
occurred schools no longer had to spend money on gifted
education, but could use the money at their discretion.
Many districts were financially hurting so they used the
former gifted funds for other expenses. Gifted language
at that time was eliminated from the school code. Some
districts assumed that gifted children could make it on
their own, they were meeting standards, and did not need
special help. That is a far cry from the truth. Gifted
children are as far from the average learner as is the
child with special needs. Without teachers who know and
understand gifted children they may lower expectations
of themselves, underachieve, or even become discipline
problems.
In 2005
gifted language was restored to the school code. The
rules and regulations that cover the language were
accepted in January 2007. They will go into effect when
school districts receive gifted funding.
The funding
received in 2007, $5 million, does not compare to the
$19 million that was removed in 2003, but is a start to
restore professional development for teachers of these
children and to begin programs for underserved gifted
children.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! - Curriculum Nights are
just around the corner at each of our elementary and
junior highs, and PACE is in need of parents that
can help out. If you can help, please contact
Allison Boldridge at 551-1587 or
boldridge@comcast.net.