Well, here are some ideas -
But remember, I have no allegence to "Gifted Education" per se, because that term is so wide and so loaded that it could mean many different things. I support particular programs that tend to met the educational needs of individual gifted children, such as gradejumping, subject acceleration, and self contained multiage classrooms for the plus 145 crowd and for the 2E crowd. I support compacted and enrich curriculum as an addition to developmentally appropriate placement (gradejumping and subject acceleration)
If you have employers in the community, and they need to attract hightly skilled employees, having a school system that fairly mets the needs of all of it's children would be a selling point. Are you trying to attract business who need highly skilled employees to the community? Having children with special educational need due to giftedness is highly correlated with high IQ parents. So having a school system that is flexible and can meet those children's needs is a selling point.
If you have minorities who have been historically discriminated against, you will have many children who have special gifted educational needs, and meeting those needs will help close the "achievement gap."
If the representative is Conservative, then a parent's right to developmentally appropriate school placement may appeal.
Are representatives interested in having "young genius achievers" stay in their home state and create jobs of the future? You bet. They are particularly interested in computer and tech.
If you want more $ to the school system, then perhaps suggest that more accountability go with it, such as yearly testing that is individually tracked, so that you can see if the top performing children are making much progress from year to year. I like NWEA's MAP test for this, since it attempts to modify itself while the child is taking the test to be harder or easier as needed.
Theoretically, an education that is relevant and working will yield more productive citizens who will be better able to support the Social Security system when your representative retires.
And remember, that many of the changes that our children need are very low in cost. What does it cost to have 3 years of elementary students all do Math at the same time so that there can be cross-grade readiness groups? Nothing. What does it cost to have needed grade jumps? about 10$ for the Iowa Acceleration Scale and testing that might be needed anyway, or provided by the parents. What does it cost to publicise Talent Search participation? One piece of paper per child.
If you can organize your state to bring the children to the capitol and talk to the representatives on the educational committee about their experiences, that can make an impact. Our Connecticut Gifted Association did a wonderful job of this recently and the representatives said it was the most powerful meeting they had ever experienced. No one person has time to do it all, but every bit of help you give will move the project forward.
Best Wishes,
Trin
