Action | Revision of regulations school divisions must meet in their gifted education programs, K - 12 |
Stage | Final |
Comment Period | Ended on 3/3/2010 |
As a student who benefited from the gifted programs in the Henrico County School System, I strongly urge our elected and appointed officials to accept and implement the NAACP recommended changes and amendments to the gifted education regulations. In Henrico Public Schools: African American students are 36% of the student enrollment but only 7% of students receiving gifted education services. Caucasian students are 48% of the student enrollment, yet 80% of students receiving gifted education services. This is simply unacceptable. I do not believe that race lowers a child's ability or right to benefit from an accelerated curriculum. What I do believe is that the opportunities available to students vary, and that all students may not receive the proper support in purusing opportunities such as governor's school. Consequently, I recommend the gifted education regulations be amended to provide the rules governing the administration of governor’s school programs which are a component of gifted education programs in Virginia.