Special Education

Gifted Advocates Say Rules Protect Federal Money

By Christina A. Samuels — April 29, 2008 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Advocates for gifted education say changes to a U.S. Department of Education grant notification have allayed their fears that money designated for high-achieving students was being diverted to other needs.

In the April 21 edition of the Federal Register, the department requested grant proposals that would be funded through the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Education Program.

The program, enacted in 1989 and financed at $7.5 million for fiscal 2008, is the only source of federal funding for gifted and talented education.

An earlier version of the grant notification, published in January, had led some advocates to believe that the government was looking for programs that would use techniques successful with gifted students to help students who are low-achieving.

Using the money for anything other than identifying gifted students in underrepresented groups would be a misuse of the funds, said Jane Clarenbach, the director of public education for the National Association of Gifted Children, in Washington.

The revised notification, according to department comments, clarifies that the federal program’s money is intended to be used for programs that identify and serve students who are gifted and talented.

Any groups that apply for grants under the program must also have expertise in serving students who are gifted and talented. “It seems clear now that we’re back to serving children achieving at high levels,” Ms. Clarenbach said.

Such grant programs are particularly important, she said, because districts may not have enough money to focus on students considered underrepresented in gifted education, including economically disadvantaged students, students with limited English proficiency, and students with disabilities.

The Bush administration has repeatedly tried to kill the program. Its rationale is that states generally bear the costs of gifted education, and the Javits initiative is too small to make much of a difference, the administration said in explanation.

A version of this article appeared in the April 30, 2008 edition of Education Week

Events

Mathematics K-12 Essentials Forum Helping Students Succeed in Math
Student Well-Being Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: The Power of Emotion Regulation to Drive K-12 Academic Performance and Wellbeing
Wish you could handle emotions better? Learn practical strategies with researcher Marc Brackett and host Peter DeWitt.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Special Education How Trump's Policies Are Already Upending Special Education
The special ed. field is watching anxiously as the administration cuts grants and research contracts while threatening further disruption.
11 min read
Inclusive education in action, a boy and girl with Down syndrome participate in classroom activities, working side by side at a table as they complete their individual projects.
Courtney Hale/E+
Special Education Opinion RFK Jr. Is the Last Person Who Should Be in Charge of Special Education
Here’s why President Trump’s recent announcement sent a chill down the spines of autistic individuals like me.
David Rivera
3 min read
Collaged image of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with brightly colored classroom images in the background.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP + Getty Images
Special Education Spotlight Spotlight on Neurodiversity in K12: Supporting Every Learner's Success
This Spotlight will help you explore effective strategies for supporting neurodiverse students, fostering inclusive environments, and more.
Special Education Why Trump's Move to Shift Special Ed. to HHS Is Rattling Educators
Current and former staffers are wary of vague plans to move special education out of the Education Department.
9 min read
Professionals stand on an arrow that shifts from one parallel line to another, illustrating the concept of a realignment. One person is dressed as healthcare professional.
mathisworks/DigitalVision Vectors