President Obama’s recently released budget proposes consolidating the only federally funded gifted education program with two other programs, a move that advocates fear will put its continued funding in jeopardy.
The Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Program, which includes the National Research Center for Gifted and Talented Education and demonstration grants that support identifying and nurturing underprivileged gifted children, would be merged with the Advanced Placement Program and the High School Graduation Initiative. Together, they would become known as the College Pathways and Accelerated Learning Fund.
“This budget fails to include any specifics to directly meet the needs of gifted and talented students and does not provide incentives for States and districts to fill the void,” said Nancy Green, executive director of the National Association for Gifted Children, in a news release. “We urge Congress to restore the Javits program and to develop a comprehensive national strategy to build a pipeline of talent.”
The proposed budget would fund this new program at $100 million. The administration’s explanation for the budget request can be read in full here.
