funding for gifted services

Liza - posted on 11/26/2008

This is so frustrating. Our school recently dropped our gifted program due to lack of funding. Now there is nothing for my daughter and son. It is completely left up to the teacher to decide what to do for them. They are so busy it's hard for them to do anything other than "teach the middle". We have to hope and pray that we get a teacher who is willing to go the extra step to keep our kids challenged. I don't know what else to do. Do I have any options? We live in Illinois...about 3 hrs west of Chicago right on the IL/IA border. Does anyone know of anything?

Keebler - posted on 11/24/2008

Being in California myself, I feel your pain. They are supposed to use differentiation here too, but most teachers are so bogged down with kids with other issues that they can't see straight

Karn - posted on 11/24/2008

This frustrates me too!! My daughter was doing 3rd grade math last year in 2nd grade and we had to move - big move - MI to CA. And we are in one of the top districts in the state or so I'm told. There is no comparisons between the school in MI and the one in CA - MI was way better. They had a magnate program and if you chose not to send your child, they taught them in class (differentiation) but not here. I am very frustrated and don't know what to do. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated

Beth - posted on 11/23/2008

I don't have anything useful to add to this topic, but it grabs my heart all the same. My son is now 6 years old and I am finally finding the right services for him. The school district as a whole doesn't do anything for the advanced student, but luckily I chose a school that will provide him with 1st grade material for math and reading while he is still in kindergarten. It truly isn't enough, but it is better than before. Is there hope for more?

Keebler - posted on 11/23/2008

Yes, I did...first hand even...but No Child Left Behind(or standing IMO) completely ignores the highly gifted and does nothing to regulate or help guide the children that are at or above grade level. I was on the District Advisory Counsil for our district for 3 years and the only kids that aren't underserved are the ones who were struggling.



My answere to this is that Mediocrity doesn;t do the phenominal...

Glynis - posted on 11/17/2008

Are you aware that highly gifted children are an AT-RISK group? They drop out of school at a much higher rate than regular children and commit suicide at a higher rate, too.

Julia - posted on 11/15/2008

Have you checked out the Science and Arts Academy in Des Plaines or Quest Academy in Palatine? Both wonderful schools - can't imagine our gifted 7 year old anywhere else.