SAGE Legislative Advocacy Archive

11/25/2023 4:38 pm

 

2024 District Advocacy — Gifted Policy and Budget Review

Publication Date: March 15, 2024

 

SAGE presented to the GCISD Board of Trustees during the annual review of Gifted and Talented (GT) program policy (EHBC/EHBC-R) and the district budget planning cycle. The presentation highlighted the return on investment of specialized gifted programs. Key recommendations included:

 

  • Ensuring sustained funding for specialized professional development for all GT educators, including training on social-emotional needs of gifted learners.
  • Maintaining current low student-to-teacher ratios in specialized programs like ASPIRE to ensure adequate curriculum differentiation.
  • Developing a formal monitoring process for mandated gifted differentiation in general education classrooms.

SAGE stressed that robust policy and budget support are crucial for retaining high-performing students and staff in the district.

 

 

2023 Texas Legislative Session Wrap-Up and Funding Outlook

Publication Date: June 1, 2023

 

SAGE provided a detailed analysis of the 88th Texas Legislative Session as it pertains to funding for gifted and talented education (TEC Chapter 29). While the session did not result in major new, dedicated GT funding streams, SAGE successfully partnered with Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT) to lobby against proposals that would have made GT funding discretionary or redirected it to general education programs. SAGE encouraged members to contact their state representatives to emphasize two points for the next session:

 

  • The need for increased state funding weight per identified GT student.
  • Support for House Bill (HB) 321 (or similar bills) which aimed to strengthen reporting requirements for GT programs.

SAGE organized a letter-writing campaign to state legislators immediately following this announcement.

 

 

2021 National Advocacy — Support the Javits Act Renewal

Publication Date: November 10, 2021

 

SAGE participated in a National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) virtual advocacy campaign, urging members of Congress to renew and increase federal funding for gifted education through the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act (Title IV, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act - ESSA). The campaign specifically focused on:

 

  • Highlighting the need for research-based curricula and teacher training in low-income schools.
  • Providing grants aimed at identifying and serving gifted students from underrepresented populations.
  • SAGE created and distributed template emails and scripts for members to easily contact Senator John Cornyn and Representative Beth Van Duyne regarding the bill’s renewal.

 

 

2019 Board Policy Advocacy — Strengthening Differentiation Mandate

Publication Date: May 20, 2019

 

SAGE actively participated in the 2019 GCISD policy adoption cycle, focusing specifically on administrative regulations concerning gifted services. SAGE successfully advocated for stronger, less ambiguous language in the policy regarding the mandate for differentiation and advanced curriculum for identified GT students. This change established a formal expectation that all teachers serving identified students:

 

  • Must document appropriate differentiation in lesson planning.
  • Must complete 30 hours of initial GT training and 6 hours annually of continuing professional education.
  • SAGE tracked the final policy language through three separate school board meetings and provided public comment at each meeting.