From the Washington Coalition For Gifted Education (3/9/18):
The legislative session is over and We Did It.
The Coalition and its partners NWGCA, WAETAG, and NAGC, with support from the state PTA, gambled big this session, finding sponsors to introduce bills to expand the search for highly capable students by using acknowledged best practices.
You will recall that in 2017 the legislature mandated that the identification of low-income students for the highly capable program be prioritized. When OSPI did not provide what we felt was sufficient direction and guidance in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), we felt we had no choice but to seek legislative direction for them to do so.
This authority and direction is now provided in section 105 of E2SSB 6362. Although we did not get universal screening, a ban on Saturday testing, and professional development, OSPI did receive sufficient authority to put most of what we asked for into the WAC or other forms of guidance and direction.
Our next steps depend on the upcoming rewrite of the WAC to incorporate the instructions in section 105. We will continue to advocate for best practices, including universal screening, a ban on Saturday testing and increased professional development. If we are not successful, we will seek additional legislative authority in the next session.
Thank you for your support this session. We saw an unprecedented outpouring of contacts with legislators when we requested it. Your actions set the stage for section 105 to be included in E2SSB 6362.
The Coalition and its partners NWGCA, WAETAG, and NAGC, with support from the state PTA, gambled big this session, finding sponsors to introduce bills to expand the search for highly capable students by using acknowledged best practices.
You will recall that in 2017 the legislature mandated that the identification of low-income students for the highly capable program be prioritized. When OSPI did not provide what we felt was sufficient direction and guidance in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), we felt we had no choice but to seek legislative direction for them to do so.
This authority and direction is now provided in section 105 of E2SSB 6362. Although we did not get universal screening, a ban on Saturday testing, and professional development, OSPI did receive sufficient authority to put most of what we asked for into the WAC or other forms of guidance and direction.
Our next steps depend on the upcoming rewrite of the WAC to incorporate the instructions in section 105. We will continue to advocate for best practices, including universal screening, a ban on Saturday testing and increased professional development. If we are not successful, we will seek additional legislative authority in the next session.
Thank you for your support this session. We saw an unprecedented outpouring of contacts with legislators when we requested it. Your actions set the stage for section 105 to be included in E2SSB 6362.
From the Washington Coalition For Gifted Education (1/21/18):
We did it! We have a Hi Cap bill in the Senate mandating universal screening and other more equitable identification practices! You can follow the progress of SB 6508 on the website of the Washington State Legislature. Through that link, you can comment on the bill, sign up to get email notifications or an RSS notification.
BUT NOW THE HARD WORK BEGINS.
We need a MOUNTAIN of advocates across the state to have any chance of getting this bill passed.
There are lots of ways you can help advocate: come to the bill hearing (we’ll send out a notice of date and time), to Gifted Ed Day, February 8th, to PTA Focus Day, January 29th, email your legislator, etc.
Sign up to help here: https://tinyurl.com/support6508
This survey has a wealth of information and opportunities for you. You don’t have to be able to make it to Olympia to help. Please have a look to see how you can help.
Gifted Ed Day 2018 - February 8
Here is a tentative schedule of activities for Shoreline families:
9:30 a.m. - Opening presentations in the Columbia Room
11 a.m. - Rep. Ruth Kagi's office (District 32)
11:30 a.m. - Rep. Javier Valdez's office (District 46)
12 noon - Tour of Capitol Building (full)
1 p.m. - Tour of Capitol Building (full)
If you have questions, please contact us at: shoreline.hicap.advocacy@gmail.com
We will continue to update this page with additional details. Please check with us again.
We look forward to seeing you on February 8!
9:30 a.m. - Opening presentations in the Columbia Room
11 a.m. - Rep. Ruth Kagi's office (District 32)
11:30 a.m. - Rep. Javier Valdez's office (District 46)
12 noon - Tour of Capitol Building (full)
1 p.m. - Tour of Capitol Building (full)
If you have questions, please contact us at: shoreline.hicap.advocacy@gmail.com
We will continue to update this page with additional details. Please check with us again.
We look forward to seeing you on February 8!
From the Washington Coalition For Gifted Education (7/1/17):
Gifted advocates have much to celebrate this weekend.
The Legislature, in its McCleary reform bill, amended the funding formula for the Highly Capable Program. Funding has been at the 2.314% level for more than ten years. Beginning with the 2017-18 school year it will be 5%.
The budget more than doubled funding for HCP, to $21,265,000 for the upcoming school year and $24,306,000 for 2018-19. When other provisions of HB 2242 go into effect in 2018 and 2019, the increase will be even larger.
EHB 2242 also made a very important change in identification procedures. “District practices for identifying the most highly capable students must prioritize equitable identification of low-income students.” For too long, the HCP has been stigmatized as elitist. This new provision will require districts to place more emphasis on identifying students who have previously been overlooked. It is likely that a new WAC will be required to implement this and the Coalition is ready with best practices evidence, thanks to the work of Austina De Bonte, president of Northwest Gifted Child Association.
Our deepest thanks go to all advocates who contacted their legislators to urge them to “do the right thing” for our gifted children. After years of bashing our heads against a stone wall of indifference, we have finally broken through.
There is work to be done in the future. The number of hours factor in the funding formula still does not meet the recommendations of the Highly Capable Program Technical Work Group.
Gifted Education Day 2018 is February 8th. We’re going to gather in Olympia to celebrate, thank our legislators, and advocate for the hours part of the formula.
But, first, let’s celebrate this major victory for our most advanced students.
The Legislature, in its McCleary reform bill, amended the funding formula for the Highly Capable Program. Funding has been at the 2.314% level for more than ten years. Beginning with the 2017-18 school year it will be 5%.
The budget more than doubled funding for HCP, to $21,265,000 for the upcoming school year and $24,306,000 for 2018-19. When other provisions of HB 2242 go into effect in 2018 and 2019, the increase will be even larger.
EHB 2242 also made a very important change in identification procedures. “District practices for identifying the most highly capable students must prioritize equitable identification of low-income students.” For too long, the HCP has been stigmatized as elitist. This new provision will require districts to place more emphasis on identifying students who have previously been overlooked. It is likely that a new WAC will be required to implement this and the Coalition is ready with best practices evidence, thanks to the work of Austina De Bonte, president of Northwest Gifted Child Association.
Our deepest thanks go to all advocates who contacted their legislators to urge them to “do the right thing” for our gifted children. After years of bashing our heads against a stone wall of indifference, we have finally broken through.
There is work to be done in the future. The number of hours factor in the funding formula still does not meet the recommendations of the Highly Capable Program Technical Work Group.
Gifted Education Day 2018 is February 8th. We’re going to gather in Olympia to celebrate, thank our legislators, and advocate for the hours part of the formula.
But, first, let’s celebrate this major victory for our most advanced students.
From the Washington Coalition For Gifted Education (5/5/17):
A child’s educational program must be appropriately ambitious and every child should have the chance to meet challenging objectives. That is one of the main purposes of the Highly Capable Program.
The Legislature has not yet begun serious negotiations on the next budget. However, the McCleary Work Group is supposed to be meeting at least weekly to prepare the education portion of the budget. They have before them all the research conducted when they were the Education Funding Task Force plus the 3 budget proposals this year and they are reportedly at a stalemate. There are persistent rumors that the budget will not be ready until late June!
The proposed 2017-2018 funding levels for highly capable programs in all three budgets won’t even allow districts to continue the services they offer today.
Neither the Governor’s, the House, nor Senate budget proposals address the persistent and pervasive under funding of gifted education, and all will do harm to our state’s gifted learners.
Both House and Senate proposals continue to limit services to 2.314% of our state’s enrollment, or about 25,530 students. The Governor’s proposal raises the percentage slightly but not significantly.
But — in 2015-2016, districts identified and served 63,551 gifted students. All of these students deserve their appropriate, fully funded basic education. They have been waiting since 2009.
The cost for educating most of the 38,000 students above the state limit is paid for from local levy funds. Local levy funds are not to be used for basic education, and HCP IS BASIC EDUCATION.
At a minimum, the state needs to allocate an amount that covers the actual costs of providing services to our 63,500 plus identified gifted learners. To provide for improvements in the program that are essential to address issues of equity will require more. Providing the professional development necessary to build teacher capacity in the identification and service of gifted students costs money. Making changes to our referral and identification processes also has a cost.
Please contact your Legislators today and tell them that the Legislature needs to fund the recommendations of the 2010 Highly Capable Program Technical Work Group. The recommendations immediately below include all the issues outlined in the above paragraph.
• Fund 5% of enrollment
• Fund 6.5 hours per week in grades K-6
• Fund 3.1 hours per week in grades 7-12
District 32 Legislators District 46 Legislators
Senator Maralyn Chase (D) Senator David Frockt (D)
Rep. Cindy Ryu (D) Rep. Gerry Pollet (D)
Rep. Ruth Kagi (D) Rep. Javier Valdez (D)**
**updated 11/16/17
You can find and email your Legislator using the District finder at http://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder, or you can use the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Hot Line operators will write down your message and transmit it to your Legislator(s) so plan out in advance what you want to say, write it down, and then read it to the operator to be sure it says exactly what you want it to say.
Unsure of your message? May we suggest:
“Districts serve 63,551 highly capable students. The state funds only ~25,530. It is the state’s responsibility to fully fund gifted education as part of basic education. Adopt and fund the Recommendations of the Highly Capable Program Technical Work Group of 2010.
• Fund 5% of enrollment
• Fund 6.5 hours per week in grades K-6
• Fund 3.1 hours per week in grades 7-12”
Most Legislators are currently at home in their districts. Some have district offices. If they do, for House members, they will be listed at http://leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/DistrictOffices.aspx and for Senators http://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Senators/Pages/default.aspx. Both sites are in (mostly) alphabetical order; scroll down to yours to see if there is a district office. Try to make an appointment to meet with your legislator(s) as soon as possible.
The Legislature has not yet begun serious negotiations on the next budget. However, the McCleary Work Group is supposed to be meeting at least weekly to prepare the education portion of the budget. They have before them all the research conducted when they were the Education Funding Task Force plus the 3 budget proposals this year and they are reportedly at a stalemate. There are persistent rumors that the budget will not be ready until late June!
The proposed 2017-2018 funding levels for highly capable programs in all three budgets won’t even allow districts to continue the services they offer today.
Neither the Governor’s, the House, nor Senate budget proposals address the persistent and pervasive under funding of gifted education, and all will do harm to our state’s gifted learners.
Both House and Senate proposals continue to limit services to 2.314% of our state’s enrollment, or about 25,530 students. The Governor’s proposal raises the percentage slightly but not significantly.
But — in 2015-2016, districts identified and served 63,551 gifted students. All of these students deserve their appropriate, fully funded basic education. They have been waiting since 2009.
The cost for educating most of the 38,000 students above the state limit is paid for from local levy funds. Local levy funds are not to be used for basic education, and HCP IS BASIC EDUCATION.
At a minimum, the state needs to allocate an amount that covers the actual costs of providing services to our 63,500 plus identified gifted learners. To provide for improvements in the program that are essential to address issues of equity will require more. Providing the professional development necessary to build teacher capacity in the identification and service of gifted students costs money. Making changes to our referral and identification processes also has a cost.
Please contact your Legislators today and tell them that the Legislature needs to fund the recommendations of the 2010 Highly Capable Program Technical Work Group. The recommendations immediately below include all the issues outlined in the above paragraph.
• Fund 5% of enrollment
• Fund 6.5 hours per week in grades K-6
• Fund 3.1 hours per week in grades 7-12
District 32 Legislators District 46 Legislators
Senator Maralyn Chase (D) Senator David Frockt (D)
Rep. Cindy Ryu (D) Rep. Gerry Pollet (D)
Rep. Ruth Kagi (D) Rep. Javier Valdez (D)**
**updated 11/16/17
You can find and email your Legislator using the District finder at http://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder, or you can use the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Hot Line operators will write down your message and transmit it to your Legislator(s) so plan out in advance what you want to say, write it down, and then read it to the operator to be sure it says exactly what you want it to say.
Unsure of your message? May we suggest:
“Districts serve 63,551 highly capable students. The state funds only ~25,530. It is the state’s responsibility to fully fund gifted education as part of basic education. Adopt and fund the Recommendations of the Highly Capable Program Technical Work Group of 2010.
• Fund 5% of enrollment
• Fund 6.5 hours per week in grades K-6
• Fund 3.1 hours per week in grades 7-12”
Most Legislators are currently at home in their districts. Some have district offices. If they do, for House members, they will be listed at http://leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/DistrictOffices.aspx and for Senators http://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Senators/Pages/default.aspx. Both sites are in (mostly) alphabetical order; scroll down to yours to see if there is a district office. Try to make an appointment to meet with your legislator(s) as soon as possible.
Gifted Ed Day In Olympia!
Shoreline parents and students participated in Gifted Ed Day festivities on February 2! They had an opportunity to meet District#32 Rep. Cindy Ryu (D), and to also meet other Hi Cap families from neighboring districts. In addition to observing a Senate work session on Highly Capable, attendees heard messages from Rene Islas (president of NWGCA), Jody Hess (Highly Capable Program Supervisor from OSPI), and Camille Jones (WA State's 2017 Teacher of The Year, Quincy, WA). Close to 300 students and advocates, all wearing lime-green scarves, participated in this annual event. Read more about Gifted Ed Day and the Senate work session here.
Why should we advocate for gifted education?
Why are gifted programs needed?
Why should we advocate for gifted education?
Why are gifted programs needed?