Please consider signing this petition to keep the EC and PEP programs in Crystal Lake schools. 

The EC and PEP programs and the educators who make them possible are part of what makes learning in District 47 an exceptional experience. Without these programs, gifted and talented students will not receive the educational opportunities they need to succeed. 

If our school district truly exists to “empower all students” as its mission says, then they should consider making their cuts elsewhere, instead of from programs like EC and PEP. 

Background:

Since the 1980s, District 47 has maintained a program for high-performing students. From Kindergarten to Grade 3, PEP (Primary Enrichment Program) challenges students who benefit from enrichment activities focusing on higher-level thinking skills. Once students reach Grade 4, they may qualify for the EC (Extended Curriculum) program, which offers approximately 5 hours per week (during the school day) for additional growth and learning opportunities in math and ELA.

Both the EC and PEP programs provide critical education to students who are not appropriately challenged in a standard classroom setting. With the EC and PEP programs, classroom teachers can focus on students who are on pace for their grade level without needing to split their time, reformatting lessons to serve a broader range of learners.

This week, EC teachers were notified that due to budget cuts by the district, the EC and PEP programs and staff will be halved or eliminated for the 2025-2026 school year. 

The parent-led organization CLFOGE (Crystal Lake Friends of Gifted Education) has created this petition to urge the school board and administration to reconsider the cuts to EC and PEP. We understand that the district is making budget cuts, but we are asking the district leaders to instead find areas to make cuts that do not directly impact the student experience.

Without the EC and PEP programs, academically talented students will be under-challenged and under-served. Our school district has the responsibility to support the education of ALL students, regardless of their aptitude. 

Gifted students may not fail without programs like EC and PEP, but without these programs, the school board will have failed our students.