[Ohiogift] OAGC Advocacy Update

[anngift at aol.com]

Advocacy Update – May 31, 2013 – Now That’s How You Testify! -- Yes, I will talk aboutthe Senate education in this post. But let me first share something moreuplifting.  After months of mostly drytestimony, it is nice to experience a breath of fresh air in a hearing room. InSenate Finance that occurred yesterday with two young ladies who spoke onbehalf of gifted education funding. Both witnesses reside in districtsconsidering cuts to gifted services. Fifth graders Sarah Bennett (Chardon) andGrace Boman (Huber Heights) utterly charmed both committee members andspectators alike with their testimony, especially the following statement fromMs. Bennett: 
 
“I know people think that I will be OK if this programis cut. I will still be able to keep up with school and pass my tests. But whowants to be just OK? I want to be awesome! This country was not built on beingOK. Every kid deserves to have the most challenging education for them.”
 
Both girls drew applause from the room for theirwonderful testimony. It was incredibly refreshing to hear the views from witnesseswho are the most directly affected by school funding and policy decisions. Eventhe most hardened lobbyists in the room appreciated the testimony. To readtheir testimony along with the OAGC testimony, please go to http://www.ohiosenate.gov/committee/finance#.  Click on committee documents and thenclick on May 30 for links to all testimony provided to the committee. 
 
Okay, now back to budgetnews: Yesterday, the Ohio Senate majority caucus outlined their plan for schoolfunding. The overall plan increases the foundation funding level as well as thecap and calls for more money flowing to the reading guarantee and pre-schoolprogram. As more work is needed on the formula, the Ohio Senate was vague onthe details of the plan and the only component that was discussed was careertech which will apparently be changed. There was no discussion about the othercomponents of the formula, so we do not have any idea what is happening withgifted funding. We will not have information until next Tuesday when the fullformula is revealed in an omnibus amendment. At the point, the Senate Financecommittee will pass the bill out of committee where it will likely head to theSenate floor on Thursday, June 6. Unfortunately, we will not have any opportunity to testify on any Senatechanges to the gifted funding component, if they make any.  After the Senate passes the bill, it will goto conference committee, where the House, Senate, and the administration willhash out the differences between the different versions. For more informationabout the Senate plan, this article from this morning’s Cleveland Plain Dealeroutlines some of the details that were presented. You can access the story atthe following link: ow.ly/lzNwH . 
 
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