New Budget Recommendations -- eliminate AAP busing and centers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
As for center teachers if centers are eliminated, they could then be plugged into the base schools for LLIV. No additional training needed.

Correct.

In addition, there are MANY AAP/gifted education-endorsed teachers who do not teach AAP, so the "pool" of qualified teachers is adequate. For example, at my school, we had approximately half a dozen AAP/GT-endorsed teachers before we even had AAP in our school.

This is not the norm. I wonder why they got that certification -- I suspect they may be waiting for an opportunity to jump over to an AAP classroom when there is an opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
As for center teachers if centers are eliminated, they could then be plugged into the base schools for LLIV. No additional training needed.

Correct.

In addition, there are MANY AAP/gifted education-endorsed teachers who do not teach AAP, so the "pool" of qualified teachers is adequate. For example, at my school, we had approximately half a dozen AAP/GT-endorsed teachers before we even had AAP in our school.

Same here. And the opposite is true as well - many AAP teachers don't have any AAP/GT endorsements to begin with. So really, it just doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
As for center teachers if centers are eliminated, they could then be plugged into the base schools for LLIV. No additional training needed.

Correct.

In addition, there are MANY AAP/gifted education-endorsed teachers who do not teach AAP, so the "pool" of qualified teachers is adequate. For example, at my school, we had approximately half a dozen AAP/GT-endorsed teachers before we even had AAP in our school.

+1. Some AAP parents make it sound like training teachers to educate their snowflakes is more rigorous than a NASA training program. It really is not that big a deal.

+2
All of this hand-wringing just makes me laugh. Silly, silly parents raising snowflakes in snowglobes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^If you want to make snarky comment about my perception of the needs of my "snowflakes," who you've never met, I might argue that your GE kid is fine with a mediocre teacher who wants AAP but never makes the cut. I have never understood, why GE parents feel entitled to insult, put down and name call AAP ES students (who are aged 8-12, FFS, not adults), while AAP parents have to walk on eggshells to make sure they never suggest that GE kids just aren't that exceptional.

Not the PP to whom you're responding, but you've got to be kidding. You see it all the time on these boards - AAP parents insisting their kids are "exceptional" and that said kids "need" special teachers, special centers, and special "peers". They argue that GE kids don't need the option to switch schools, as their kids have, because, well, they're just not as exceptional! What could they possibly need that they don't get at the base school, they ask? Meanwhile, it's perfectly fine with these parents to fully acknowledge their kids are getting a "superior" education than the GE kids - and that's just fine with them, because their kid is in AAP. If the shoe were on the other foot, however, and their snowflakes were getting the short end of the stick, you can bet we'd never hear the end of it.

So, quite honestly, I don't see anyone "walking on eggshells" to avoid offending GE kids or parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
As for center teachers if centers are eliminated, they could then be plugged into the base schools for LLIV. No additional training needed.

Correct.

In addition, there are MANY AAP/gifted education-endorsed teachers who do not teach AAP, so the "pool" of qualified teachers is adequate. For example, at my school, we had approximately half a dozen AAP/GT-endorsed teachers before we even had AAP in our school.

This is not the norm. I wonder why they got that certification -- I suspect they may be waiting for an opportunity to jump over to an AAP classroom when there is an opening.

At our center, several AAP certified teachers jumped at the opportunity to switch to Gen Ed classrooms. Hmm, I wonder why that could be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^If you want to make snarky comment about my perception of the needs of my "snowflakes," who you've never met, I might argue that your GE kid is fine with a mediocre teacher who wants AAP but never makes the cut. I have never understood, why GE parents feel entitled to insult, put down and name call AAP ES students (who are aged 8-12, FFS, not adults), while AAP parents have to walk on eggshells to make sure they never suggest that GE kids just aren't that exceptional.

Not the PP to whom you're responding, but you've got to be kidding. You see it all the time on these boards - AAP parents insisting their kids are "exceptional" and that said kids "need" special teachers, special centers, and special "peers". They argue that GE kids don't need the option to switch schools, as their kids have, because, well, they're just not as exceptional! What could they possibly need that they don't get at the base school, they ask? Meanwhile, it's perfectly fine with these parents to fully acknowledge their kids are getting a "superior" education than the GE kids - and that's just fine with them, because their kid is in AAP. If the shoe were on the other foot, however, and their snowflakes were getting the short end of the stick, you can bet we'd never hear the end of it.

So, quite honestly, I don't see anyone "walking on eggshells" to avoid offending GE kids or parents.

First, my arguing that my child should have access to a special program is my own perception of what my child needs. It in no way insults or puts down your kid. Honestly, I'm not in a position to say what is best for your kid or kids. AAP parents are advocating for what they believe their child needs. I do not see them belittling GE kids. But parents of GE kids on this board seem to have no problem with taking a swing at ES AAP students (not just parents or the AAP process, but the ES aged kids)-- with all of the your kids is not as bright as you think and special snowflake in a snow globe crap. Given the age of the kids we're talking about, insulting the children and calling them names crosses a line in my book.

Second, yes, I get that You think it's unfair that some AAP kids have school choice and your DC does not (base school Center kids have no choice). But I have never seen a GE parent articulate how school choice for GE would work. Do you want a better magnet system? Charters? For you child to be able to choose between the 2 schools closest to your house? Everyone has a right to got to immersion (not lottery)? If Centers are here to stay and AAP kids will keep havIng school choice, what choice do you want from FCPS to make it seem fair for your kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^If you want to make snarky comment about my perception of the needs of my "snowflakes," who you've never met, I might argue that your GE kid is fine with a mediocre teacher who wants AAP but never makes the cut. I have never understood, why GE parents feel entitled to insult, put down and name call AAP ES students (who are aged 8-12, FFS, not adults), while AAP parents have to walk on eggshells to make sure they never suggest that GE kids just aren't that exceptional.

Not the PP to whom you're responding, but you've got to be kidding. You see it all the time on these boards - AAP parents insisting their kids are "exceptional" and that said kids "need" special teachers, special centers, and special "peers". They argue that GE kids don't need the option to switch schools, as their kids have, because, well, they're just not as exceptional! What could they possibly need that they don't get at the base school, they ask? Meanwhile, it's perfectly fine with these parents to fully acknowledge their kids are getting a "superior" education than the GE kids - and that's just fine with them, because their kid is in AAP. If the shoe were on the other foot, however, and their snowflakes were getting the short end of the stick, you can bet we'd never hear the end of it.

So, quite honestly, I don't see anyone "walking on eggshells" to avoid offending GE kids or parents.

First, my arguing that my child should have access to a special program is my own perception of what my child needs. It in no way insults or puts down your kid. Honestly, I'm not in a position to say what is best for your kid or kids. AAP parents are advocating for what they believe their child needs. I do not see them belittling GE kids. But parents of GE kids on this board seem to have no problem with taking a swing at ES AAP students (not just parents or the AAP process, but the ES aged kids)-- with all of the your kids is not as bright as you think and special snowflake in a snow globe crap. Given the age of the kids we're talking about, insulting the children and calling them names crosses a line in my book.

Second, yes, I get that You think it's unfair that some AAP kids have school choice and your DC does not (base school Center kids have no choice). But I have never seen a GE parent articulate how school choice for GE would work. Do you want a better magnet system? Charters? For you child to be able to choose between the 2 schools closest to your house? Everyone has a right to got to immersion (not lottery)? If Centers are here to stay and AAP kids will keep havIng school choice, what choice do you want from FCPS to make it seem fair for your kid?

I think that if FCPS is going to continue allowing AAP kids to choose between LLIV at their base school and a center program (which are the same things, regardless of how some parents claim they're not), then yes, Gen Ed kids should be allowed to at least choose between the two schools closest to their homes, for whatever reason they or their parents deem necessary. There are often reasons why a school switch is a good idea - social problems, the need for a fresh start with a new peer group, etc. In other words, if AAP kids are given the choice of the same program, but at different schools, then Gen Ed kids should be given the same type of choice. And I don't see how this affects AAP kids in any way - giving all kids the same opportunities and choices. Just as you claim one school may be a better fit for your child, the same could be said about my child - for a variety of different reasons.

As for "name-calling," I don't see using the term snowflake as a slam on the kids - it refers to how their parents perceive them more than anything. Parents who insist on special treatment for their kids who don't require it are treating them like fragile snowflakes and unfortunately, this kind of overbearing parental personality type is fair game for criticism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^If you want to make snarky comment about my perception of the needs of my "snowflakes," who you've never met, I might argue that your GE kid is fine with a mediocre teacher who wants AAP but never makes the cut. I have never understood, why GE parents feel entitled to insult, put down and name call AAP ES students (who are aged 8-12, FFS, not adults), while AAP parents have to walk on eggshells to make sure they never suggest that GE kids just aren't that exceptional.

Not the PP to whom you're responding, but you've got to be kidding. You see it all the time on these boards - AAP parents insisting their kids are "exceptional" and that said kids "need" special teachers, special centers, and special "peers". They argue that GE kids don't need the option to switch schools, as their kids have, because, well, they're just not as exceptional! What could they possibly need that they don't get at the base school, they ask? Meanwhile, it's perfectly fine with these parents to fully acknowledge their kids are getting a "superior" education than the GE kids - and that's just fine with them, because their kid is in AAP. If the shoe were on the other foot, however, and their snowflakes were getting the short end of the stick, you can bet we'd never hear the end of it.

So, quite honestly, I don't see anyone "walking on eggshells" to avoid offending GE kids or parents.

First, my arguing that my child should have access to a special program is my own perception of what my child needs. It in no way insults or puts down your kid. Honestly, I'm not in a position to say what is best for your kid or kids. AAP parents are advocating for what they believe their child needs. I do not see them belittling GE kids. But parents of GE kids on this board seem to have no problem with taking a swing at ES AAP students (not just parents or the AAP process, but the ES aged kids)-- with all of the your kids is not as bright as you think and special snowflake in a snow globe crap. Given the age of the kids we're talking about, insulting the children and calling them names crosses a line in my book.

Second, yes, I get that You think it's unfair that some AAP kids have school choice and your DC does not (base school Center kids have no choice). But I have never seen a GE parent articulate how school choice for GE would work. Do you want a better magnet system? Charters? For you child to be able to choose between the 2 schools closest to your house? Everyone has a right to got to immersion (not lottery)? If Centers are here to stay and AAP kids will keep havIng school choice, what choice do you want from FCPS to make it seem fair for your kid?

NP here. Problem is AAP is too many parents' perceptions of what their kid needs. If AAP disappeared tomorrow, my guess is all but a very tiny amount of kids would be just fine. My oldest was in the program, but had it not existed, his intellectual peers would have stayed at his base school instead of all of them being bused across town.

Secondly, like many parents on here who are critical of AAP in its current form, I also had kids in Gen Ed. Kids, btw, who were received great educations in their base schools and have gone on to succeed as honor students in high school. The problem with parents who talk about how their kids NEED AAP, is quite frankly, that these parents haven't yet seen the rest of the movie. They don't see how these kids who are told they are special from age 7 fare in high school and beyond. They refuse to even acknowledge the inequity of a program that might find 1/3 of kids in affluent areas "gifted," while failing to recognize many equally bright kids from lower SES areas who haven't been spoon fed enrichment from birth and don't have parents working 24-7 to game their way into AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^If you want to make snarky comment about my perception of the needs of my "snowflakes," who you've never met, I might argue that your GE kid is fine with a mediocre teacher who wants AAP but never makes the cut. I have never understood, why GE parents feel entitled to insult, put down and name call AAP ES students (who are aged 8-12, FFS, not adults), while AAP parents have to walk on eggshells to make sure they never suggest that GE kids just aren't that exceptional.

Not the PP to whom you're responding, but you've got to be kidding. You see it all the time on these boards - AAP parents insisting their kids are "exceptional" and that said kids "need" special teachers, special centers, and special "peers". They argue that GE kids don't need the option to switch schools, as their kids have, because, well, they're just not as exceptional! What could they possibly need that they don't get at the base school, they ask? Meanwhile, it's perfectly fine with these parents to fully acknowledge their kids are getting a "superior" education than the GE kids - and that's just fine with them, because their kid is in AAP. If the shoe were on the other foot, however, and their snowflakes were getting the short end of the stick, you can bet we'd never hear the end of it.

So, quite honestly, I don't see anyone "walking on eggshells" to avoid offending GE kids or parents.

First, my arguing that my child should have access to a special program is my own perception of what my child needs. It in no way insults or puts down your kid. Honestly, I'm not in a position to say what is best for your kid or kids. AAP parents are advocating for what they believe their child needs. I do not see them belittling GE kids. But parents of GE kids on this board seem to have no problem with taking a swing at ES AAP students (not just parents or the AAP process, but the ES aged kids)-- with all of the your kids is not as bright as you think and special snowflake in a snow globe crap. Given the age of the kids we're talking about, insulting the children and calling them names crosses a line in my book.

Second, yes, I get that You think it's unfair that some AAP kids have school choice and your DC does not (base school Center kids have no choice). But I have never seen a GE parent articulate how school choice for GE would work. Do you want a better magnet system? Charters? For you child to be able to choose between the 2 schools closest to your house? Everyone has a right to got to immersion (not lottery)? If Centers are here to stay and AAP kids will keep havIng school choice, what choice do you want from FCPS to make it seem fair for your kid?

I think that if FCPS is going to continue allowing AAP kids to choose between LLIV at their base school and a center program (which are the same things, regardless of how some parents claim they're not), then yes, Gen Ed kids should be allowed to at least choose between the two schools closest to their homes, for whatever reason they or their parents deem necessary. There are often reasons why a school switch is a good idea - social problems, the need for a fresh start with a new peer group, etc. In other words, if AAP kids are given the choice of the same program, but at different schools, then Gen Ed kids should be given the same type of choice. And I don't see how this affects AAP kids in any way - giving all kids the same opportunities and choices. Just as you claim one school may be a better fit for your child, the same could be said about my child - for a variety of different reasons.

As for "name-calling," I don't see using the term snowflake as a slam on the kids - it refers to how their parents perceive them more than anything. Parents who insist on special treatment for their kids who don't require it are treating them like fragile snowflakes and unfortunately, this kind of overbearing parental personality type is fair game for criticism.

There are ways to move to a different ES if a child is having issues at his/her base school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
As for center teachers if centers are eliminated, they could then be plugged into the base schools for LLIV. No additional training needed.

Correct.

In addition, there are MANY AAP/gifted education-endorsed teachers who do not teach AAP, so the "pool" of qualified teachers is adequate. For example, at my school, we had approximately half a dozen AAP/GT-endorsed teachers before we even had AAP in our school.

+1. Some AAP parents make it sound like training teachers to educate their snowflakes is more rigorous than a NASA training program. It really is not that big a deal.

But, this isn't the same. We have a great base school and absolutely love it. However, most of the teachers are not adequately trained to recognize and appropriately teach highly gifted kids, particularly those that aren't high achievers in a traditional classroom. In 1st grade, the teacher told us our DC couldn't handle the work. This teacher is AAP certified. When we pushed back and said we think DC won't do the work, not that DC can't do the work, she argued with us. Meanwhile, the NNAT score came back perfect. Even then the teacher didn't know how to give her the level of work our DC needed to keep interested and perform. Our DC basically was allowed to read all day.

The center school has AAP teachers that all have master's degrees in spec ed. They have been amazing with our DC and DC has more peers and friends that have similar academic interests. If they move the whole program back to the base schools, it would be difficult on kids like my DC.

Now, some kids who are gifted/highly gifted are also high achievers and they function well in a traditional school. Our other DC is gifted (IQ not as high as sibling, but still well in the gifted range) and the base school works well DC. This DC is not in 3rd grade yet, but with the scores we've seen and the teacher's feedback I have no doubt DC will qualify for AAP. We have discussed keeping this DC at the base school because DC performs well and is happy there.

I'm in the camp that I feel most kids can handle a version of AAP, but there are still a few AAP kids that are in the spec needs category that would highly benefit from teachers and peers that are more appropriate for them.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^If you want to make snarky comment about my perception of the needs of my "snowflakes," who you've never met, I might argue that your GE kid is fine with a mediocre teacher who wants AAP but never makes the cut. I have never understood, why GE parents feel entitled to insult, put down and name call AAP ES students (who are aged 8-12, FFS, not adults), while AAP parents have to walk on eggshells to make sure they never suggest that GE kids just aren't that exceptional.

Not the PP to whom you're responding, but you've got to be kidding. You see it all the time on these boards - AAP parents insisting their kids are "exceptional" and that said kids "need" special teachers, special centers, and special "peers". They argue that GE kids don't need the option to switch schools, as their kids have, because, well, they're just not as exceptional! What could they possibly need that they don't get at the base school, they ask? Meanwhile, it's perfectly fine with these parents to fully acknowledge their kids are getting a "superior" education than the GE kids - and that's just fine with them, because their kid is in AAP. If the shoe were on the other foot, however, and their snowflakes were getting the short end of the stick, you can bet we'd never hear the end of it.

So, quite honestly, I don't see anyone "walking on eggshells" to avoid offending GE kids or parents.

First, my arguing that my child should have access to a special program is my own perception of what my child needs. It in no way insults or puts down your kid. Honestly, I'm not in a position to say what is best for your kid or kids. AAP parents are advocating for what they believe their child needs. I do not see them belittling GE kids. But parents of GE kids on this board seem to have no problem with taking a swing at ES AAP students (not just parents or the AAP process, but the ES aged kids)-- with all of the your kids is not as bright as you think and special snowflake in a snow globe crap. Given the age of the kids we're talking about, insulting the children and calling them names crosses a line in my book.

Second, yes, I get that You think it's unfair that some AAP kids have school choice and your DC does not (base school Center kids have no choice). But I have never seen a GE parent articulate how school choice for GE would work. Do you want a better magnet system? Charters? For you child to be able to choose between the 2 schools closest to your house? Everyone has a right to got to immersion (not lottery)? If Centers are here to stay and AAP kids will keep havIng school choice, what choice do you want from FCPS to make it seem fair for your kid?

I think that if FCPS is going to continue allowing AAP kids to choose between LLIV at their base school and a center program (which are the same things, regardless of how some parents claim they're not), then yes, Gen Ed kids should be allowed to at least choose between the two schools closest to their homes, for whatever reason they or their parents deem necessary. There are often reasons why a school switch is a good idea - social problems, the need for a fresh start with a new peer group, etc. In other words, if AAP kids are given the choice of the same program, but at different schools, then Gen Ed kids should be given the same type of choice. And I don't see how this affects AAP kids in any way - giving all kids the same opportunities and choices. Just as you claim one school may be a better fit for your child, the same could be said about my child - for a variety of different reasons.

As for "name-calling," I don't see using the term snowflake as a slam on the kids - it refers to how their parents perceive them more than anything. Parents who insist on special treatment for their kids who don't require it are treating them like fragile snowflakes and unfortunately, this kind of overbearing parental personality type is fair game for criticism.

There are ways to move to a different ES if a child is having issues at his/her base school.

How?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that if FCPS is going to continue allowing AAP kids to choose between LLIV at their base school and a center program (which are the same things, regardless of how some parents claim they're not)

Maybe in your part of Fairfax County LLIV is the same thing at the base school and the assigned center school, but it is not in my part of Fairfax County.

It is difficult to make blanket statements about anything in FCPS since there is so much variance from school to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There are ways to move to a different ES if a child is having issues at his/her base school.

How?

Pupil placement.

http://www.fcps.edu/dss/osp/StudentRegistration/student-transfer/

Medical, emotional, or social adjustment —The student demonstrates exceptional hardship for reasons of medical, emotional, or social adjustment. Independent, detailed documentation substantiating the circumstances (e.g., from physicians, psychologists, social workers, or counselors) is required and must be attached to the student transfer application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^If you want to make snarky comment about my perception of the needs of my "snowflakes," who you've never met, I might argue that your GE kid is fine with a mediocre teacher who wants AAP but never makes the cut. I have never understood, why GE parents feel entitled to insult, put down and name call AAP ES students (who are aged 8-12, FFS, not adults), while AAP parents have to walk on eggshells to make sure they never suggest that GE kids just aren't that exceptional.

Not the PP to whom you're responding, but you've got to be kidding. You see it all the time on these boards - AAP parents insisting their kids are "exceptional" and that said kids "need" special teachers, special centers, and special "peers". They argue that GE kids don't need the option to switch schools, as their kids have, because, well, they're just not as exceptional! What could they possibly need that they don't get at the base school, they ask? Meanwhile, it's perfectly fine with these parents to fully acknowledge their kids are getting a "superior" education than the GE kids - and that's just fine with them, because their kid is in AAP. If the shoe were on the other foot, however, and their snowflakes were getting the short end of the stick, you can bet we'd never hear the end of it.

So, quite honestly, I don't see anyone "walking on eggshells" to avoid offending GE kids or parents.

First, my arguing that my child should have access to a special program is my own perception of what my child needs. It in no way insults or puts down your kid. Honestly, I'm not in a position to say what is best for your kid or kids. AAP parents are advocating for what they believe their child needs. I do not see them belittling GE kids. But parents of GE kids on this board seem to have no problem with taking a swing at ES AAP students (not just parents or the AAP process, but the ES aged kids)-- with all of the your kids is not as bright as you think and special snowflake in a snow globe crap. Given the age of the kids we're talking about, insulting the children and calling them names crosses a line in my book.

Second, yes, I get that You think it's unfair that some AAP kids have school choice and your DC does not (base school Center kids have no choice). But I have never seen a GE parent articulate how school choice for GE would work. Do you want a better magnet system? Charters? For you child to be able to choose between the 2 schools closest to your house? Everyone has a right to got to immersion (not lottery)? If Centers are here to stay and AAP kids will keep havIng school choice, what choice do you want from FCPS to make it seem fair for your kid?

I think that if FCPS is going to continue allowing AAP kids to choose between LLIV at their base school and a center program (which are the same things, regardless of how some parents claim they're not), then yes, Gen Ed kids should be allowed to at least choose between the two schools closest to their homes, for whatever reason they or their parents deem necessary. There are often reasons why a school switch is a good idea - social problems, the need for a fresh start with a new peer group, etc. In other words, if AAP kids are given the choice of the same program, but at different schools, then Gen Ed kids should be given the same type of choice. And I don't see how this affects AAP kids in any way - giving all kids the same opportunities and choices. Just as you claim one school may be a better fit for your child, the same could be said about my child - for a variety of different reasons.
I
As for "name-calling," I don't see using the term snowflake as a slam on the kids - it refers to how their parents perceive them more than anything. Parents who insist on special treatment for their kids who don't require it are treating them like fragile snowflakes and unfortunately, this kind of overbearing parental personality type is fair game for criticism.

There are ways to move to a different ES if a child is having issues at his/her base school.

+1. Social emotional adjustment is one reason stated for allowing ES students to transfer. Childcare is another. As PP pointed out, non-AAP kids can follow AAP kids to a Center to keep siblings together. I wonder how many parents who say their kids are being damaged by being in a Center school have made a formal request on this basis for transfer to the nearest non-AAP school? These schools should be less crowded and often open to transfer. How many GE parents really want their kids to transfer-- in 3rd grade, like AAP kids, to the next nearest school? Since my kid's bus goes by the closest base school to pick up SACC kids, I imagine you could even get busing.

If you really want the right to transfer you kid to the nearest ES open for transfer, and you feel the transfer guideline are not liberal enough, why don't you advocate for this change to make things "fair," rather than taking away the Center option.? I'd support this (although I think most GE parents would not actually move a kid in 3rd grade for reasons outside the current FCPS transfer guidelines, which are pretty liberal). I think most AAP parents would.

[Anonymous]

For everyone arguing that gifted kids don't have federally protected special need-- they're about to, under the new education bill. It's a small start (teacher education), but it's a start: http://www.nagc.org/blog/good-day-gifted-education-advocates