Governmental Issues
Currently, OATAG's legislative agenda desires a Full time TAG Specialist at ODE with appropriate support. This position is currently funded at .32 with .5 support. Today the Specialist's primary role is to react towards districts regarding parent complaints. As such, the Specialist has minimal or no time for proactive role for districts.
A Full time position will provide time for:
• Leadership--Specialist will serve as a statewide resource for staff development
• District support – Specialist will assist districts in staff development and program management
• Technical assistance – Specialist will research and assist in areas of best practices, identification
OATAG also seeks $6 million per biennium for ODE to support gifted education across state. Unfortunately, all TAG funding was eliminated by the final Special Session of the Legislative Assembly in September, 2002. As such, $6 million funding per biennium will provide:
$50 to districts per identified gifted student per year – 4.6 million
• Establish demonstration sites for exemplary practices - $320,000
• Establish mentor/partnership grants for resources among local educational agencies - $354,000
• Expand current funding to include training for administrators and school counselors - $200,000Award grants to selected regional agencies to provide student and Parent opportunities - $500,000
• Funding package would increase support to $64.93 per TAG student
Oregon has a K-12 identified TAG population of over 40,000 students. No money goes directly to districts to administer much needed programs and services for their highly capable students. No money is appropriated for assisting districts or teachers in how to meet the needs of their most capable students. There is tremendous disparity between districts as to the amount of money budgeted for TAG services, or whether any money is budgeted.
By comparison, according to the most recent Federal data:
California spent $54 million for TAG services in 2001/2, an average of $125 per student
Mississippi, our poorest state, spent $32.9 million in 2001/2, an average of $1000 per student
Of the states that report both their TAG student numbers and appropriations in 2001/2, the average per student was $239.
There were just seven states and the District of Columbia that reported no spending on TAG.
(See http://www.tagpdx.org/per_capita_state_spending.htm for more information)
Washington State spends approximately $6.2 million for TAG per year, an average of $125 per student
Preservice Training for all teachers on ways to address the learning needs of a diverse student population--including adequate emphasis on meeting the needs of gifted students
Today no classes are available specifically on gifted education
No classes are required of preservice teachers on ways to adapt curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of exceptional students
Training in strategies for differentiating instruction would improve instruction for all students
Implementation of the National Association for Gifted Children's standards for k-12 services.
At a statewide summit in April 2000, teachers, TAG specialists and parents from across Oregon concluded that these NAGC standards align with and support the vision and goals created by the State Board of Education and the Oregon Department of Education.
They found that most Oregon schools are not meeting even the minimum standards set out in any of the seven NAGC program areas. They recommended that Oregon establish a five-year plan for implementing these standards.
Implementation would improve instruction for all students in Oregon.
Gifted students cannot somehow “make it on their own.” Even though gifted students can learn at a more rapid pace and are capable of great depths of understanding it is important that they are taught and mentored by those who are trained and capable of adjusting curriculum and instruction in order to meet their advanced needs. All talent needs to be nurtured and valued in order to be developed.
For more information contact OATAG
Margaret DeLacy, Legislative Advocate
503-774-7017
margaretdelacy@comcast.net
Contact the state legislature: http://www.leg.state.or.us/writelegsltr/writeset.htm