HCPSS students and teachers need you!  The Superintendent’s Proposed FY25 Operating Budget will cut 20 GT elementary teacher positions and the services they provide to students starting in August.  

The HCPSS proposed budget cuts for the 2024-2025 school year include:

-         Elimination of 20 GT teaching positions at the elementary level

-         Reduction to 1 GT Math class per grade level (4th and 5th)

-         Cuts to GT CEUs (curriculum extension units) 

-         Elimination of GT Seminars (open to ALL students)

 

We ask that the Board of Education restore all GT teacher positions cut and the services they provide Howard County students.

Please urgently sign this petition to let our HCPSS Board of Education (BOE) know that GT teachers matter to our community.  

Please help show support by emailing your concerns about the loss of these programs and teachers to:  boe@hcpss.org, cball@howardcountymd.gov, and BudgetTestimony@howardcountymd.gov 

 

Background:

ALL students in grades K-1 participate in Primary Talent Development, which includes creative thinking, logic, and reasoning lessons taught by GT teachers in students’ homeroom classrooms.   

GT CEUs (curriculum extension units) use an accelerated curriculum in science and social studies for students in grades 2-5.  CEUs teach critical thinking, oral and written skills, and research methods during science and social studies content time.  Many students in grades 2-5 participate in CEUs throughout the school year.  CEUs reduce the student-to-teacher ratios in the CEU and homeroom classrooms as students engage with GT teachers.

GT Seminars are open to ALL interested students.  Students participate in a wide variety of science, technology, arts, and communication enrichment programs with topics like: coding, leadership, origami, and Greek mythology.  All students are eligible to participate.

GT Math is taught to students demonstrating advanced skills in mathematics in grades 4-5.

 

Further Reading:

What are the current elementary GT programs offered through HCPSS?

https://www.hcpss.org/academics/gifted-and-talented/es/

Want more information about the proposed budget cuts and budget approval timeline?

https://www.hcpss.org/about-us/budgets/fy25/

How can you advocate for the HCPSS budget?

https://www.ptachc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/How-to-Advocate-for-the-HCPSS-Budget.pdf