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Friends:<br>
<br>
Below, in its entirety, is a press release issued by the NAGC and the CEC
today<br>
<br>
Margaret<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
NAGC, CEC Applaud Congressional Leaders for Investing in Gifted
Education; Urges Congress to Enact FY14 Omnibus Package<br>
<br>
Javits Act, unfunded since FY11, identifies, serves gifted, disadvantaged
students<br>
<br>
WASHINGTON (Jan. 15, 2014) The National Association for Gifted
Children (NAGC) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the
nation’s leading advocates for more funding to support gifted students,
applauded the actions by key leaders in Congress to restore funding to
support a U.S. Department of Education program focused on providing
educators with the tools to identify and serve such students from
disadvantaged backgrounds.<br>
<br>
This week, Senate and House appropriators released a Fiscal Year 2014
spending bill that includes $5 million for the Jacob Javits Gifted and
Talented Students Education Act. The Javits Act, which was defunded by
Congress in FY 2011, supports applied research to develop classroom
strategies for identifying and serving these learners. <br>
<br>
NAGC and CEC have long advocated for a greater investment in the Javits
Act. As a longtime supporter of gifted education, NAGC and CEC
worked closely with Senate Appropriations Chair Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.),
who led the push to restore the funding.<br>
<br>
“Our most gifted children need our help just as much as our most
vulnerable do. They need to be held to high standards, they need to be
challenged, and they need to be engaged. I’m proud to fight to support
the Javits Gifted and Talented Education program our nation’s only
federal program dedicated specifically to gifted and talented students,”
Sen. Mikulski said.<br>
<br>
Over the years, work funded by the Javits program has led to improved
instruments for identifying minority and English language learners for
gifted education services; models to apply advanced curriculum strategies
to a broad range of students; and teacher training approaches to help
ensure that general education classroom teachers are able to provide
challenging instruction for high-ability students. <br>
<br>
“With recent international tests showing that top students in the U.S.
are outperformed by peers in numerous nations and a growing paucity of
students from disadvantaged and minority backgrounds achieving at
advanced levels, the need for this program is abundantly clear,” said
NAGC Executive Director Nancy Green.<br>
<br>
Despite years of modest funding, the Javits program has enjoyed a strong
record of success, helping to develop strategies that teachers have used
to recognize high-potential and serve gifted students, particularly those
from disadvantaged backgrounds. Data and research show that students from
minority and low-income backgrounds have fewer opportunities to
participate in gifted education, despite their ability to thrive in such
programming.<br>
<br>
“Our federal education policy must emphasize the importance of supporting
the academic needs of all students, including those who are gifted,” said
CEC President Robin D. Brewer. “We’re delighted to see the FY 2014
omnibus legislation recognizes the national need to invest in supporting
gifted learners, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.” <br>
<br>
Green and Brewer also thanked Sen. Mikulski for her leadership and urged
Congress to promptly complete its work on the FY 14 omnibus bill and to
strengthen and enhance the Javits program in the coming year.
<br>
<br>
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The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) is an organization of
parents, teachers, educators, other professionals, and community leaders
who unite to address the unique needs of children and youth with
demonstrated gifts and talents as well as those children who may be able
to develop their talent potential with appropriate educational
experiences. Visit us at
<a href="http://www.nagc.org/" eudora="autourl">www.nagc.org</a>. <br>
<br>
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is an international community
of educators who are the voice and vision of special and gifted
education. CEC’s mission is to improve the quality of life for
individuals with exceptionalities and their families through professional
excellence and advocacy. Visit us at
<a href="http://www.cec.sped.org/" eudora="autourl">www.cec.sped.org</a>.<br>
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