I've recently become aware of Ohio's law and statewide acceleration policy. Here's a link: http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templ...mp;TopicRelationID=964&Content=26224

Does anyone know if it's helping in Ohio? Or of other states that are working on adopting something similar?

Trinity

OH passed new "Gifted Operating Standards" in Mar 2008.
new standards


Our school's policy

In searching through our school boards policies I found this statement at the end of a detailed section regarding acceleration:

Bolded by me.

You may be able to find your schools policies by doing this google search:
"your school district here" site:neola.com

You know what irks me? The 'Board' is made up of elected officials with very few having any qualifications other than a desire to be on the board and enough friends to vote them on. That said, I guess that may make them more open to listening to parents advocating for their children than an appointed person who 'has the education to be all-knowing, all-powerful' and 'knows what is best for all children'.

ETA: One previous member of our board was on the state board of education until enough people realised what she was trying to do. Her ideal is to have mandatory preschool starting around 3 years old. She pretty much thinks child-rearing should be left in the hands of those educated to teach children.

I've talked to ODE twice and talked (to the point of driving our district insane). My understanding (and let's emphasize that) is the ruling (which is not the same as legislation) demands that public districts which currently claim and collect funding for gifted services provide 225 minutes of tangible services (per week) in the areas they claim services.

In our district this - imho - back fires. Because the district once provided services in 3 areas will now only provide technically in one - because they do not have the resources for 3 x's 225 minutes. the intent (again my understanding) was to get districts to do more. and to keep districts from collecting $ claiming gt services but only giving worksheets not teaching.

again it goes furthering in identification. but again it is id'ing without giving districts more money for services. it is a huge step. i'm optimistic that in time money will start to follow or at least districts may start valuing gt more.

each district will grab and define as they see fit. they do not have to take all the "suggested" ways to service. with exceptions around if they provide then 225. it does not mean a district not claiming to provide gt needs to start. imho.

everything is stretched by a district. for example we were told our district wouldn't split hairs in applying for early entrance even though we touch the deadline. not to say we would have been accepted if we applied. at this point we continue to support our option of a gifted charter school. but i was hugely optimistic the march rulings mandated more... but i was thinking it would end up being 225 x's 3 areas for us. in some districts this may be huge news if the current pull-out was only 60 mins a week.