The new budget may put already limited gt resources on the block. Let your state rep and ODE know, gt services matter - to you - to kids. Manadates without funding? We've come so far - the 225 rule/manadates with any cuts to funding... Our district is already looking to make cuts some where. I don't need Strickland pointing an arrow at the best 4 hours of our week.

Plus he wants to increase the length of the school year from 180 days to 200 days. Think about how that will mess up the budgets of schools to have increased expenses for those extra days.

The increase of 20 days will be over 10 years - but I haven't seen when all day kindergarten will need to be in place... our district doesn't have the space currently - plus that doubles the teacher salary right... They HAVE to completely tear down current funding and come up with a new way.

Thanks for the warning, Kickball. Do you have any web sites or links that you can post where I can get more info? I tried to search "Ohio budget 2009 gifted education" and could not find many additional details. I did find that they were allocating 0.4% of the budget to gifted education. I guess I could look up the 2008 budget and see what percentage decrease is forecast. I would love to write a very strongly worded letter to my state reps. The more info, the better.

I happen to be particularly jealous of your proclamation of 4 hours a week for gifted services. DOK!!!! I think my son may get under an hour ever 2 weeks or so. How completely depressing!

While I think about it.... Is there any way to compare how different schools handle gifted pullout services? (such as contact hours per week?) I would love to amass data on regional or state differences in gifted pullout services. My goal would be to show our school district how completely pathetic they are compared to other school districts.

If you are in OHIO, your school didn't get a waiver, and the district is collecting gt unit money for the state - they must provide 225 minutes per week. So shy of 4 hours...

ebeth- I think it would be wonderful to be able to compare different school district's gt services. When we were "school shopping" in Ohio, we had to contact each potential school and ask about their services. It varied from nothing to some pullout services to "challenge track" of classes. We chose the latter and DD skipped a year of math and LA this year. She will begin next year with another math skip, which really doesn't cost the school a penny. Pull out classes are more expensive than accelerating subjects as needed, but that's another topic altogether....

Hmm.

Is there any "rating" for GT-friendliness website for schools?

They must provide 225 minutes per week.

What does the above mean? My DS9 goes to private catholic school they offer max. of two 20 min. gifted pull out - they call it enrichment. They increase the challenge during enrichment time for reading and math. We live in ohio.

I believe the 225 min./wk is only for public schools (though providing any services at all is not required.) By state law, they are required to identify the students, but not service them?! Makes no sense! I am not sure, but if they DO provide services that is was they are supposed to offer. My children are in a private Catholic school as well, and they offer enrichment for the younger grades (k-3) then Academically talented starts in 4th-8th, though it's the same thing. The younger grades go 2Xwk/30 min. each time. It's nice to have but it doesn't go along with any school curriculum. it's just that... enrichment. Provides something enriching, but not necessarily more in depth to anything they do in the classroom.

bh14
Thank you.

Here's a few curiosity questions if you would care to share. I'm new to all this gifted stuff.

Do you feel like your children are being challenged enough in school? Do you think their going to a catholic private school has any bearing on advocacy for gifted children?