TAGT was invited to give testimony at two recent legislative committee hearings.  President-Elect Michelle Swain gave testimony on April 20 to the Senate Education Committee, which is investigating ways to improve middle school education.  On April 22, Associate Director Tracy Weinberg offered testimony on the funding formula and allotment that gifted education receives from the state to the Select Committee on Public School Finance Weights, Allotments & Adjustments.

You can view video of the testimony at www.senate.state.tx.us/avarchive/?yr=2010.  Michelle’s testimony can be found at the 5:39 mark on the April 20 video, and Tracy’s is at 8:32 mark on the April 22 video.

Below are links to copies of the testimony given, as well as statistical information compiled from state data.

• GT Info by Region for Testimony, 4-22-10.pdf
• Middle School Panel 5 Testimony from Michelle Swain 4-20-10.pdf
• Tracy's Testimony on Weights, 4-22-10.pdf

HB 3 has been signed into law by Governor Perry. The responsibility now rests with the commissioner of education; he will make the decision as to how to proceed (see text below).  In addition, the governor signed HB 3646, which alters and lightly increases funding for most school districts and also increases teacher salaries.

TAGT Legislative Update May 22, 2009 (PDF)

TAGT Legislative Update May 5, 2009 (PDF)

TAGT Legislative Update April 27, 2009  (PDF)

Keep abreast of current action in the legislature related to gifted education.

• 81^st Legislature Education Committees, 2009 (PDF)
  Who represents me?
• Texas Legislature Website

HB 1692 (PDF)

HB 1692, filed by Rep. Scott Hochberg of Houston, would require the Texas Education Commissioner to adopt standards for the evaluation of gifted and talented programs. Currently, there are no such standards nor any evaluation of gifted and talented programs done statewide. In addition, the bill would provide a means by which school districts would be able to receive additional money for serving gifted students above the current 5% cap on average daily attendance by providing certain recommended programs or courses approved by the commissioner.

The bill was heard in committee at 11:30 on March 31. Parts of HB 1692 were folded into HB 3. See the TAGT Legislative Updates (top) for current information.
View the Bill (PDF) View the Tracking Report (PDF) Watch the Hearing (Requires RealPlayer) 10 hours, 37 minutes

TAGT Position Statements

• International Baccalaureate^©

• Advanced Placement

Effective advocacy is more than being passionate about gifted education.  The effective advocate knows how to convey the message that needs to be heard - how to frame information in a manner that drives the point without alienating those who influence the decision-making process.

Regular sessions of the Texas Legislature convene on the second Tuesday in January of every odd numbered year for 140 days to conduct state business.  The state's budget, on which public education is dependent, is developed for the biennium during these legislative sessions.

The following links will provide helpful guidance for gifted education advocacy and public education policy:

• Research That Supports the Need for and Benefits of Gifted Education
  by Sally M. Reis, Legislative Chair, The National Association for Gifted Children, and Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor at Neag School of Education, The University of Connecticut (PDF on the NAGC website)
• A Checklist for Advocating with Public Policy Makers
  Some useful tips and reminders about what you should and should not do when advocating for gifted education.
• Supporting Gifted Education Through Advocacy
  This 1990 report outlines the importance of effective nurturing of giftedness in children and adolescents through a cooperative partnership between home and school, one that is characterized by mutual respect and an ongoing sharing of ideas and observations about the children involved. To accomplish this partnership, parents and educators must know something about giftedness, understand the children's needs, and understand some basic principles of advocacy.
• Advocating for Appropriate Education for Your Child
  This article is one of the most informative and detailed guides for parents of gifted children when dealing with teachers and administrators in the public schools. It provides a very positive approach to being a good advocate for your child so that you can create a win-win situation.

Texas Education Agency 

Governor: Rick Perry
Commissioner of Education: Robert Scott
State Dept. of Ed. - Gifted and Talented: Debbie Gonzales

State Definition of Gifted: “‘[G]ifted and talented student’ means a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who:

1. exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area;
2. possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or
3. excels in a specific academic field.”          (Texas Education Code Ann. § 29.121)

The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students (Texas Education Agency, updated September 2009) English | Spanish

The Texas Education Code on Gifted Education
§29.121 - §29.123 and §42.156

The Texas Administration Code on Gifted Education

The Texas Performance Standards Project

ESTUDIOS, A J.K. Javits Grant Program

Frequently Asked Questions on the State Plan