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1999 SESSION
991102148Whereas, the federal Gifted and Talented Children’s Act, P.L. 95-561, as amended, and state law and regulations governing gifted education in Virginia require the early identification of gifted students and that an appropriate and differentiated instructional program be provided such students; and
Whereas, there are many concerns and needs in gifted education, such as adequate funding, the program’s governing structure, appropriate measures and tools used to identify gifted and talented students, professional staff development, equity with other educational programs, and diversity among students, teachers, and staff; and
Whereas, representatives of school divisions and professional associations in gifted education, parents, teachers, and students expressed to the Joint Subcommittee Studying the Educational Needs of Certain Underserved Students concerns regarding these issues and the necessity for improved inter-division collaboration, cooperation, and communication to address these issues collegially and discuss matters of mutual interest; and
Whereas, the joint subcommittee believes that essential improvements in gifted education can be made, and problems are resolved best when persons of a common mission and purpose are allowed and encouraged to deliberate and explore their interests together; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. Virginia Gifted Education Consortium established; members; duties; convening of consortium by Superintendent of Public Instruction; staff support.
A. With such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, there is hereby established the Virginia Gifted Education Consortium to facilitate collaboration, cooperation, and communication among school divisions to address issues of mutual concern regarding gifted education. The consortium shall be composed of representatives, on a voluntary basis, of local school divisions; institutions of higher education; professional organizations and associations for the gifted; professionals conducting research related to gifted and talented students and staff development; teachers, administrators, and counselors of gifted and talented students; parents; and advocates of gifted education.
B. The consortium shall:
1. Promote the early identification of gifted and talented students;
2. Promote networking and the sharing of best practices among educators and school divisions;
3. Monitor gifted education programs to ensure the delivery of an appropriate and differentiated instructional program that is in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations governing gifted education;
4. Observe gifted education programs to ensure appropriate levels of qualified professional staff and adequate funding to maintain facilities and a high-quality gifted education program;
5. Monitor the effect of the Standards of Learning and the Standards of Accreditation on the statutory requirement for the early identification of gifted students and the delivery of an appropriate and differentiated instructional program;
6. Address the educational and support needs of all gifted students under federal law, particularly the needs of minority, poor, and special needs students and those who demonstrate exceptional artistic, mechanical, technological, and other recognized abilities to the same extent as the needs of students with exceptional cognitive abilities who are traditionally identified for gifted education programs;
7. Encourage, promote, and support full inclusion in gifted education programs to increase the representation of racially, culturally, ethnically diverse, and special needs students, teachers, counselors, and administrators in such programs;
8. Encourage parental involvement in and generate community support for gifted education programs;
9. Develop and engage in joint ventures and research projects designed to address mutual problems shared by participating school divisions, and assist in the implementation of best practices, when appropriate;
10. Advocate for the needs of gifted and talented students, and the programs which serve them; and
11. Propose such changes as may be needed to ensure program quality, effectiveness, and diversity.
C. For the purpose of convening the consortium, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall issue a call for volunteer representatives to serve on the consortium, as provided in subsection A of this section. The Superintendent shall determine, upon consultation with the volunteer representatives after their consent to serve has been received, the initial meeting date and a meeting schedule for the group. He shall preside over the election of a chairman, vice chairman, and secretary for the consortium. The Superintendent shall designate staff of the Department of Education to observe the consortium’s proceedings.
2. That this act shall expire on July 1, 2001.