Gifted Programs Aim to Regain Budget Toehold

Hunter Howard studies a question on the board in Donna Young's 3rd grade class at Bridgeport Elementary School in Indianapolis. Federal funds for the enrichment program were cut last year.

—Danese Kenon for Education Week

Efforts lack Obama administration's backing

By Nirvi Shah

Dedicated programs for gifted students have lost their presence in the federal budget, leaving advocates and experts to defend legislation that lacks the support of the Obama administration and has been called ineffective and duplicative by members of Congress.

The 24-year-old Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program has been cut in the past, but its cut a year ago has hit advocates for the gifted especially hard: They say they don't understand why the program has lost support at the same time the administration is calling for more innovation to keep the United States globally competitive and turn the economy around.

While some longtime supporters of work that advances gifted learners are pushing for the funding to be reinstated, as well as for new legislation and financial support from other research entities, it's unclear whether their efforts will be successful in the current...