Is Gifted Education Endangered Again?

Many people across the state have heard rumors that opponents of gifted education are once again mounting an effort to eliminate its legal status. At the moment, this appears to be talk rather than action. Thus, supporters of gifted education do not need to mobilize right now. TIGER and other advocates of gifted education, however, will be monitoring the situation very closely. If gifted education opponents move from talk to action, TIGER will respond aggressively to mobilize parents, teachers, and other supporters to defend the educational programs that gifted students depend on.

The reason for the rumors: In 2004, the federal government adopted new special education legislation, and the Tennessee Department of Education has put together a Task Force to revise state special education rules to conform to the new federal law. This Task Force has a number of members who supported the effort to eliminate gifted education several years ago. The Task Force recently held its first meeting, at which several members apparently raised the issue of eliminating current gifted education law. Hence, the discussion and rumors about what is going on.

We have had discussions with staff at the State Board of Education and private education attorneys, and have been told the same thing by all. The status of gifted education is currently in Tennessee law, and this cannot be amended or eliminated by Department of Education rules. The only way opponents of gifted education can change the status of gifted education is to go back to the General Assembly and seek a change in law (what they tried several years ago). The Task Force on special education rules does not have the authority to change the legal status of gifted education, and, moreover, we have been assured it would be unprecedented for such a group to even recommend changes in law.

Again, given the views expressed by several members of this Task Force, TIGER will be closely monitoring and reporting on their work throughout the tenure of the group. If gifted education is attacked, we will respond and respond aggressively. At this time, however, no action is needed.

Michael Swanson recipient of 2006 Senator Person Advocacy Award

Memphis, TN, September 20, 2006: At the TAG conference held in Memphis September 7 and 8, Tennessee Initiative for Gifted Education Reform (TIGER) presented its annual Senator Curtis Person Advocacy Award to Michael Swanson, founder of Swanson Consulting (http://www.swansonconsulting.net/). “Mr. Swanson has consistently demonstrated his commitment to help ensure that high-ability students in Tennessee receive an appropriate education,” said Sally Endler, current TIGER President. “Mr. Swanson, with David Carleton, began TIGER in 2001 to protect gifted education in Tennessee and works tirelessly on behalf of our children.”

The award was created in honor of Curtis S. Person, Jr., for his child advocacy and legislative leadership supporting the vision that all Tennessee children should receive an education appropriate to their needs. Person is the Judge of the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County and served in the Tennessee Senate for over 40 years. He was the Senate sponsor of the 1972 Weldon Act, which gave Tennessee gifted students their right to a free and appropriate education. The Weldon Act predated, and served as a model for, federal special education law. Senator Person is a devoted supporter of disability and gifted education, and recently sponsored legislation creating a state-level study committee on gifted education.

TIGER and TAG work together advancing and protecting public policy at the state or local level, help create and enhance advanced academic programs, create and work to expand teacher training as well as parent information programs and work to remove barriers and increase access to appropriate learning environments.