Hi Mombot - Welcome - good for you for working for change!
I guess what I'm wondering is - what changes would you like to see happen.
Here's what I would want on "No Budget, but unlimited good will": it seems reasonable to place each child at their readiness level, and for each child to have a few intellectual peers in their classroom. So if you ask for a few cluster grouping 4 or 5 kids who are strong in a particular area for K-5, that is something that doesn't cost a dime. Sorting the kids into readiness levels for reading and math helps all the kids, not just the brightest ones. Also - Zero cost, just have to play with the schedule and the teacher's minds.
Subject Acceleration - For the brightest kids who don't have anyone in their grade at their readiness level, then cross grade grouping for reading and math is ideal. This requires coordinating the schedules of the classrooms who have the gifted clusters. Example: The strongest readers are placed in Mrs. P's Kindergarden class who have reading from 9:00am to 9:30am. The strongest readers in the first grade are placed in Mr. J's class, and the strongest readers in 2nd grade are in Miss L's class. Mr. J and Miss L agree to teach reading from 9:00 to 9:30 am also. One of the kindergardeners and two of the first graders go to Miss L's 2nd grade class for reading. Two of the Kindergardeners go to Mr. J's class for reading. No one has to do reading with their homeroom if they are doing reading in another class. No one has to miss a party or a hands on demo to get taught at their readiness level. No one has to do homework below their readiness level to qualify for the chance to learn something new.
The Math is treated similarly. That way if one of the kids from Kindergarden does eventually skip to first grade, because after getting to know the children it's clear that the socio-emotional needs are better served there - and that Mr. J 'clicks' with the child, then the child can change to a full skip with little fanfare. By the time September rolls around, the now 2nd grader may need further subject acceleration in Math and Reading, but can stay with the 2nd graders for the rest of the day. This kind of 'Dual Citizenship' is worthwhile if the teachers are supportive. That is a big IF, and some cash made availible for teacher training in the subject of Gifted Ed might help. Perhaps a neighboring school system that does have a gifted program might let some of your teacher attend their classes to save more money. Carefully choosing the teachers who are given the cluster groups in the first place will be very helpful.
BTW - none of this has to be talked about in terms of giftedness. The school can simply send home a letter asking the parents if the think their child is ready for more difficult Math and reading then what their child is currently getting, and the school will check and see if their child is currently being taught at their correct readiness level or if they need a change. If the school wants to get fancy, they could provide space for the parent to give examples of why they think so. That would discourage most folks right off the bat.
The big steriotype is that every parent wants harder work for their child. I have not found this to be the case.
Hope this helps,
Grinity
