Saturday, September 1, 2007

Needs of Gifted in the News

Have you read this article? http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/27/Pasco/Gifted_students_have_.shtml

...or this article?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/26/AR2007082600909.html/

Group for Parents and Educators of Gifted Formed

Parents of Gifted Students Launch Advocacy and Support Group

(Tampa, FL) – A small group of parents has big plans for Gifted Education in Hillsborough County. “We won’t be small for long,” states GACH, Inc. President Stephanie Georgiades. The Gifted Advocacy Council of Hillsborough, Inc. (GACH, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization, founded in 2007 to support the education of gifted children and provide a forum for sharing information about Best Practices in gifted education. “We know there are many parents out there who need a network and additional resources to help them meet the educational needs of their gifted students. We have a website, www.GACHFlorida.org, designed just for them – to equip them with the knowledge and contacts they need to pursue Excellence in Education for their children,” said Georgiades.

“There are approximately 16,000 gifted students, defined as children whose IQ’s exceed 130 on a formally administered intelligence test, in the District. There may be many more who are not yet identified. The law entitles these students to a differentiated curriculum that meets their emotional and educational needs,” Georgiades continued. “Our Board of Directors is comprised of parents and teachers of the gifted, and as our membership grows we expect to develop a strong partnership with local schools, the School District of Hillsborough County and state lawmakers to ensure our teachers receive the training and resources necessary to support a relevant and rigorous gifted curriculum and our students receive gifted services through graduation.”

“The GACH website, www.GACHFlorida.org, will inform the public of legislation, policies and programs affecting gifted students,” explained GACH, Inc., Vice President Dr. Michael Matthews, Assistant Professor of Gifted Education at the University of South Florida’s Graduate School of Education. ”We also plan to hold quarterly meetings featuring speakers and topics of broad interest to the members. Our first general meeting is currently scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 2007, and GACH is pleased to announce that Terry Wilson, founder of the Florida Gifted Network and longtime advocate for gifted learners, will discuss legislation and policies affecting gifted education.”
Membership in GACH, Inc. is open to anyone interested in issues surrounding Gifted Education. The Membership Form, as well as meeting topics, times and locations, can be downloaded from the GACH website, www.GACHFlorida.org.