[Ohiogift] OAGC Advocacy Update 10.16.2015

[Ann Sheldon]

AdvocacyUpdate 10.16.15 – Let’s Get Ready to Advocate! 
 
GiftedOperating Standards Reboot -- It was great to see so many of you at the OAGCFall conference. It appears that many of you are incredibly discouraged aboutthe latest draft of the gifted operating standards proposed by ODE. While thatis understandable, now is not the time to quit the fight.  While it is true that a few members of theState Board of Education may be intent on dismantling gifted services in Ohio,there are others who are staunch advocates for gifted children. It is importantfor all board members to hear from gifted parents, gifted professionals, andgifted children in the upcoming months. While OAGC can provide policy informationto the State Board, we cannot provide the compelling stories of individualexperience that provide meaning to our positions. That is up to you. Many of youhave asked if OAGC has a form letter that we can provide for you to send toboard members. We do not. We do not feel that form letters or emails areparticularly effective advocacy tools for us. What is effective are yourpersonal stories. 
 
ODE has not opened the input portal yet to receiveinput on the 9.11.15 draft of the operating standards. When it does OAGC willrespond quickly, and post our input at www.oagc.com/advocacyupdates forall of you to review and use to formulate your own response. In the meantime,here is a list of the elements of the new draft that have been eliminated: 
 
·        Allquality definition or criteria for service including service settings andthe need for qualified gifted intervention specialists to provide service orsupport in regular classroom settings;
·        Allcaseload restrictions and direct service contact time for gifted students;
·        Alldefinition of qualified gifted staff including gifted intervention specialistsand gifted coordinators; 
·        Allsignificant reporting of qualified personnel, professional development, andassistance to regular classroom teachers thus removing any meaningful datacollection to analyze the effective use of resources;  
·        Allfunding accountability requirements; and, finally,
·        Allcompliance language including that regarding ODE audits and the process to remediatenon-compliant districts, all of which is required under Ohio Revised Code. 
 
Please begin the conversation with members of the State Board about howthese changes will affect gifted children in your area of the state.  I was delighted to see an email from a middleschool student from a Whitehall City Schools, who pointed out how giftedstudents are often bullied. Here is a short snippet of her email: 
 
“Gifted (programming)has made me a better person, who I am today. A crazy, outgoing girl with a lotof friends. Gifted is a place where people who were bullied for being 'smart'or 'Einstein' can all come together and stand up for themselves. I have watchedmany of my friends transform into wonderful people. Taking away teachers whocan actually teach us and understand us would be horrible.  It's like taking away the cocoa beans from achocolate factory.” 
Thank you to Gabby for making her views known. Below, pleasefind the emails for State Board of Education members.  Now, get to work!
 
  
  
First
  
  
  
Last 
  
  
  
Email Address
  
 
 
  
  
Ann E. 
  
  
  
Jacobs
  
  
  
ann.jacobs at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Kathleen
  
  
  
McGervey
  
  
  
kathleen.mcgervey at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
A.J.
  
  
  
Wagner
  
  
  
a.j.wagner at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Pat
  
  
  
Bruns***
  
  
  
pat.bruns at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Roslyn
  
  
  
Painter-Goffi
  
  
  
roslyn.painter-goffi at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Michael
  
  
  
Collins
  
  
  
michael.collins at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Sarah
  
  
  
Fowler
  
  
  
sarah.fowler at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Stephanie
  
  
  
Dodd***
  
  
  
stephanie.dodd at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Ron
  
  
  
Rudduck***
  
  
  
ron.rudduck at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Mary Rose
  
  
  
Oakar
  
  
  
maryrose.oakar at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Melanie
  
  
  
Bolender***
  
  
  
melanie.bolender at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Tess
  
  
  
Elshoff**
  
  
  
tess.elshoff at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Joe
  
  
  
Farmer***
  
  
  
joe.farmer at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Cathye
  
  
  
Flory
  
  
  
cathye.flory at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Tom
  
  
  
Gunlock*
  
  
  
tom.gunlock at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
C. Todd
  
  
  
Jones***
  
  
  
todd.jones at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  
  
Frank
  
  
  
Pettigrew
  
  
  
frank.pettigrew at education.ohio.gov 
  
 
 
  
  
Rebecca
  
  
  
Vasquez-Skillings***
  
  
  
rebecca.vazquez-skillings at education.ohio.gov
  
 
 
  


  


  


 
 
  
  
*President
  
  


  


 
 
  
  
**Vice President
  
  


 
 
  
  
***Member of the Achievement Committee
  
 

 
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