As New York State undertakes its Reimagine Education initiative, we must insist that students needing gifted programming and services have a voice. Please sign this petition to show your support.

Why should we care about gifted programs? If gifted kids are so smart, don’t they just “figure it out”?  Don’t they all do well in school?  

Did you know that:

• 6.7% of students nationally are enrolled in gifted programs, but only 1.7% of New York State’s students are identified and enrolled in gifted programs.
• This discrepancy disadvantages not only New York State’s students, but the state’s economy and future. 
• Underachievement is a common issue among gifted learners. Obstacles such as social and emotional difficulties, socio-economic challenges, discrimination, low expectations, and coexistence of disability result in many high potential learners going unidentified or receiving inappropriate instruction.
• Gifted youth experience additional factors associated with suicide, in addition to factors experienced by the general population. Psychological autopsies of students identified as gifted and having committed suicide uncovers that they experience additional factors related to schools’ lack of preparedness to meet their needs including: untrained teachers, inadequate curriculum and social and emotional support, anti-intellectualism, being/feeling misunderstood and neglected by school personnel, and feeling unsupported in academic setting transitions. 
• Research supports that graduate coursework in gifted education improves teachers’ effectiveness. They are more likely to individualize instruction and emphasize creativity and thinking skills in their teaching, potentially creating additional opportunities for exceptional learning experiences for all students.

For these reasons and our lived experiences, we believe that it is critical to transform New York State’s approach to gifted education to include:

• Universal, ongoing, and inclusive procedures for identification throughout the K-12 experience, using multiple methods for identification, and eliminating high-stakes single test methods.
• Strength-based programs and learning opportunities that go beyond enrichment and allow learners to excel to their ability, and not be limited to grade level standards.
• Professional development for all educators and administrators to help identify and advance understanding of gifted learners.
• Access to related services to support the social and emotional needs of this population, which may otherwise go unaddressed.
• Two-way accountability between the New York State Education Department and Local Education Agencies for quality identification and programming, including establishing an advisory council in collaboration in collaboration with the Education Department.

Click here to read the full Appeal to Improve and Transform New York's Gifted Education.  It was developed and is supported by these stakeholder groups consisting of parents, educators, providers, and other professionals from the following organizations representing diverse geographic areas of New York State:

-The Association for the Education of Gifted Underachieving Students (AEGUS)
-Twice Exceptional Children’s Advocacy (TECA)
-Gifted New York State (GiftedNYS)
-Central New York Gifted Youth (CNYGY).

To join us in this call to action please:

1. Sign and share this petition.  

2. Call and email your state legislators to express your support and ask for theirs. Click on these links to download the: Appeal to Improve and Transform New York's Gifted Education  and ready-to-send cover letters.