Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act

The U.S. Congress will return to Washington D.C. after the 2006 elections to complete action on the fiscal year 2007 appropriations bills. In spite of advocates' best efforts, funding for the Javits program is in jeopardy. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have now approved separate versions of the fiscal year 2007 education funding bill. After the House committee allocated $0 for the Javits program back in mid June (H.Rept. 109-515), our attention turned to the Senate. Thanks to the support of several key Senators, the Javits program was not eliminated in the Senate, but the funding level was reduced. On July 20 the Senate Appropriations Committee allocated only $5.025 million for the program -- enough to continue funding all of the current grants and the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented, but not enough money to make any new grant awards in 2007 (S.Rept. 109-287).

Please write to your U.S. Congresspersons encouraging them to support the Javits Act and gifted education grants.