This is the place where GTA will be posting announcements.
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posted Apr 26, 2011 12:06 PM by GTA Administrator
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updated May 1, 2011 5:27 PM
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At
7 p.m. on Monday, April 25, 2011 Montgomery County Public Schools announced
the selection of Dr. Joshua Starr to succeed Dr. Jerry Weast as Superintendent. Read the MCPS press release.
Dr. Starr began as a teacher in 1993 and
has spanned a variety of educational positions. Dr. Starr has been the
superintendent in Stamford since 2005.... Previously, he served at the executive level
in the New York City Department of Education, the largest school system
in the nation, where he held the position of Director of School
Performance and Accountability. Dr. Starr’s first position with the New
York City Department of Education was as Deputy Senior Instructional
Manager.
Dr. Starr began his career as a special education teacher in the New
York City Public Schools working with severely emotionally disturbed
adolescents. He has also served in administrative roles in Plainfield,
New Jersey and Freeport, New York.... Dr. Starr holds a doctorate
degree in administration and social policy from the Harvard Graduate
School of Education and has published articles in many journals in the
field of education.
News Stories about the Announcement
Connecticut and Stamford Public Schools
Interviews with Dr. Starr
Connecticut News Teacher Talk blog ran a series of
stories about, and interviews with, Dr. Starr earlier this year. You can
see them here:
Stamford Parent Groups
Stories about Dr. Starr and Detracking
Dr. Starr was engaged in fight over “detracking” during his tenure in Stamford.
Magnets
Miscellaneous
Special education
- http://www.connecticutspecialeducationlawyer.com/special-ed-ct-specific/how-the-pj-case-impacts-connecticut-special-education/
- http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/deps/SA/SA_PJ_Final02.pdf \
- http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/DEPS/Special/SPP/PJIndicatorAPPB.pdf
- http://www.wiltonvillager.com/story/499093
- http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/DEPS/Settlement/Stamford.pdf
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posted Apr 6, 2011 6:01 PM by GTA Administrator
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updated Apr 6, 2011 6:04 PM
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GIFTED AND TALENTED ASSOCIATION OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INC.
April 4, 2011 Via email: countycouncil@montgomerycountymd.gov County Council of Montgomery County 100 Maryland Avenue Rockville, MD 20850 Re: Budget—Montgomery County Public Schools—Gifted and Talented Students Council members: This letter presents the perspective of the Gifted and Talented Association of Montgomery County, Inc. regarding the County budget. GTA’s purpose is to support programs for educating gifted and talented students. These are students who, according to Maryland statute and MCPS policy, perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels, or who have high performance capability in intellectual, creative, and/or artistic areas, leadership, or specific academic fields. MCPS is withdrawing service from gifted and talented students: 1. The budget for MCPS’ Visual Arts Center was halved last year, leaving MCPS’ sole high school magnet arts program with only one full-time teacher; 2. The number of instrumental music teachers is proposed for reduction; 3. Gifted and Talented/Learning Disabled elementary school staffing is proposed to be reduced from 13:1 to 16:1; 4. Class size increases by one student in elementary and middle schools and .4 students in high school make in-class differentiation among students of varying abilities even less feasible; 5. Reduction in the number of staff development teachers impairs the professional development necessary to address gifted needs; 6. Local school core course programming is increasingly ill-matched to the needs and abilities of gifted and talented students. The damage being caused by the GT service withdrawal is itemized in comments submitted with a March 28, 2011 Petition to the Board of Education signed by 825 parent-voters (http://www.gtamc.org/challenge-every-child): 1. A decline in Montgomery County’s national reputation for quality education, impairing the County’s ability to attract and retain business; 2. Gifted and talented student underperformance, alienation from school, depression; 3. Parental sense that their children are being “wasted;” 4. Sense of “unfairness;” 5. Loss of respect for MCPS and the Board of Education, as institutions; 6. Willingness to leave MCPS for other public school systems, private schools or home-schooling; 7. The unequal allocation of educational opportunities among neighborhoods; 8. The undermining of Montgomery County economic and social stability. Budget constraint is one of several interlocking factors causing the GT service withdrawal. Other factors include an ideological aversion to serving gifted students, a managerial impetus to “align” operations toward a single objective, low standards and high sanctions imposed by NCLB, and simplistic measurement of financial “efficiency” according to dollars spent per “proficient” student. The County Council controls the MCPS budget only in part, and influences the other factors only indirectly. So the County’s full budgetary support for MCPS would not assure that gifted and talented students are served and the damage arrested. However, without County budgetary support, the virulent cycle of the other factors would be exacerbated, and the damage deepened. As you make budgetary allocations, please support the education of gifted and talented students. Very truly yours, Frederick Stichnoth, President fred.stichnoth@yahoo.com |
posted Mar 30, 2011 6:24 PM by GTA Administrator
GTAMoCo would like to extend its sincere thanks to the 50 GT supporters who showed up to the Monday, March 28 Board of Education meeting, wearing green and holding up the "Challenge Every Child" signs we handed out. Your presence made an impact. (That's Superintendent Jerry Weast at right, surveying the overflow crowd that included advocates for music education, Edison/Wheaton, charter school, media specialists and others.) We also want to thank GTA parent Lisa Silverberg -- with her son holding that great big green sign right next to her! -- for her strong testimony. Special thanks go to MCCPTA President Kristin Trible for her leadership. She reached out and gave incisive testimony. Many thanks also to MCCPTA Gifted Child sub-Committee Chair Michelle Gluck for her testimony, as well as MCCPTA Curriculum ChairTed Willard for his work. And once more, thank you to the over 800 people and counting who signed the Challenge Every Child petition! On Monday afternoon the petition -- all 109 pages of it -- was delivered to each BOE member as well as the Superintendent and the MCPS leadership. GTA President Fred Stichnoth has received several comments that this was some of the most effective advocacy that has been seen in years. The petition remains open, a continuing public display of strong support for gifted education in Montgomery County. |
posted Mar 23, 2011 9:36 PM by GTA Administrator
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updated Mar 27, 2011 7:46 PM
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At last month's Board of Education meeting, the proponents of the so-called "No Labels, No Limits" campaign offered testimony in support of elimination of GT "labeling" and in favor of a one-size-fits all education model. [Read more here: Campaign against Gifted and Talented Label revives longstanding debate - Gazette 3/9/11]. GTA has launched a petition to let the Board of Education know that this is not acceptable. Instead, we want them to CHALLENGE EVERY CHILD. You can learn more and sign the petition here. Please spread the word. We also encourage you to come to the March 28 Board of Education meeting. Let the Board know that this agenda does not have the support of the parent community. Print out the sign below to show your solidarity on Monday! Show up at tomorrow's Board of Education Meeting:- When: Monday, March 28, 7:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
- Where: Carver Educational Service Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. First floor Board room -- entrance on the right side of the building.
- Wear: Green, for GT
What we want to accomplish:- Stop the "No Labels" momentum with the Board
- Continue Grade 2 GT identification
- Restore flexible homogeneous ability grouping
- Develop higher level GT curricula and GT performance benchmarks
- Support MCCPTA as MCCPTA supports us
What's it all about:The No Labels, No Limits! campaign is aimed at ending GT identification and ability grouping. The Gazette says the campaign has the upper hand with the Board...
BUT WE’RE REVERSING THE MOMENTUM.We’ve got:We still need:- A crowd at Carver on Monday, 7:30 pm. Only if YOU make the effort can we be sure of the crowd. GT will be at the center of the Board’s attention right then, and we need lots of real parents and students behind MCCPTA and in front of the Board, so they’ll know we’re serious.
- Oral comments to the Board on Monday, March 28 around 7:45 p.m. You need to reserve one of the limited slots. Call (301) 279-3617 on Monday morning 11:00 a.m. sharp.
- Petition numbers, petition comments. Signatures and comments (without contact information) will be sent to the Board by Monday. Today is the deadline. Add to the effort.
- You to forward this message to everyone you know. Make sure you bring people with you. We need the turnout.
THIS WORKS ONLY IF WE STAND TOGETHER MONDAY! |
posted Mar 23, 2011 9:20 PM by GTA Administrator
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updated Mar 26, 2011 6:03 AM
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The Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations has delivered a letter to the Board of Education strongly supporting retention of the GT label, ability grouping and gifted and talented instruction. The letter is also attached below, along with two earlier MCCPTA resolutions referenced in the letter. MCCPTA will deliver comments on this subject to the Board at the Board meeting on Monday, March 28, approximately 8:30 p.m. at Carver, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. Let's support MCCPTA as MCCPTA supports us! |
posted Feb 13, 2011 11:23 AM by GTA Administrator
The Maryland Humanities Council sponsors a number of educational initiatives that are of value to gifted students, including, most notably, National History Day competition, as well as summer Chautauqua events, the One Maryland, One Book program, and history talks and films around the state. Therefore it is worth noting that the Maryland Humanities Council has been zeroed out of the governor's proposed budget for 2012. A letter from the executive director of the Maryland Humanities Council is below. To learn more about the Maryland Humanities Council's work, see http://www.mdhc.org/programs/ Dear Friend—
Governor Martin O’Malley recently released his proposed 2012 budget for Maryland.
In that budget, funding for the Maryland Humanities Council (through the Maryland Historical Trust) was zeroed out for the first time in nearly 25 years. This represents a loss of $53,500, money that supports free public programs and grants to local museums, historical societies, and libraries.
As you may remember, last year the Maryland Humanities Council incurred a 50% cut from the state. This new 100% cut affects our ability to serve the one million Marylanders we touch each year with free lectures, exhibitions, reading and discussion programs, and author tours. And so, now more than ever, we need your help to keep all our programs—including Chautauqua, Maryland History Day, and One Maryland One Book—thriving.
We hope you will add your voice to the call for the restoration of this vitally important funding. Please contact Governor O’Malley and Senate President Mike Miller and let them know that this budget cut is just too much. The link below will take you to MHC's website, where you can view sample letters of support to send via email or post, as well as contact information for their offices.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN ADVOCATE FOR THE HUMANITIES IN MARYLAND
You play a key role in keeping education, culture, and humanities thriving in Maryland. We hope you will take action today! When you do contact our elected officials, please let us know. Send us a copy of your letter via email to pdavis@mdhc.org or via post to our offices in Baltimore.
Thank you very much for your support,
Phoebe Stein Davis
Executive Director, Maryland Humanities Council
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posted Feb 13, 2011 11:21 AM by GTA Administrator
The Maryland State Advisory Council on Gifted and Talented Education, appointed by State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick, will celebrate Governor Martin O’Malley’s Proclamation of February 2011 as Gifted and Talented Education month at a reception on February 16, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Miller Senate Building in Annapolis. The proclamation affirms that Maryland, recognized for the third year in a row as having the number one school system in the nation, now aims to reach world-class educational standards and produce a globally competitive work force. To accomplish this goal, Maryland schools and school systems must identify and nurture gifted and talented students, who have the potential to perform at remarkably high levels and who are found in all socioeconomic, racial and cultural groups. Approximately 300 persons are expected to attend the celebration, including legislators, educators, parents, students, and community members. An awards ceremony will recognize outstanding accomplishments of schools, educators, students, and community members from school systems across the state. New this year will be presentation of the EGATE award, which is awarded to Maryland schools which have demonstrated excellence in gifted and talented education. The Governor’s Proclamation, suitable for posting in schools, and more information about the Annapolis reception and the EGATE award can be found at http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/giftedtalented/ |
posted Oct 24, 2010 12:57 PM by GTA Administrator
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updated Oct 24, 2010 1:10 PM
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(Submitted by Fred Stichnoth, GTA representative to the MCPS Accelerated and Enriched Instruction Advisory Committee.) The AEI Advisory Committee received a presentation regarding the Student Instructional Program Planning and Implementation (SIPPI) program. The Board of Education receives the presentation Monday, October 25. In preparation for the Board meeting, MCPS posted a Memorandum to the Board of Education from Dr. Weast dated October 25, 2010 on the subject “ Update on Student Instructional Program Planning and Implementation” (Weast 2010).
My Main Issues
SIPPI is a good tool for assuring that those selected for “advanced-level” classes actually are placed there, and eliminating the disparity in the actual placement of traditionally-underrepresented students.
SIPPI as piloted does not close gaps.
SIPPI is intended to further MCPS’ goal to place an increasing percentage of all students in “advanced-level” courses. This should be contrasted with a goal of placing each student at that level of course work, including on-level and supportive courses, that optimizes the student’s education. On-level classes are deprecated through this advanced-level fetish. This suggests that MCPS is most “challenged” in its execution of on-level programming. SIPPI is an identification tool, intended to match students with differentiated programs. Without differentiated programs (no Science, no Social Studies, no monitoring of William and Mary implementation, Math in free-fall, Middle School “Advanced” curricula one-sized for everybody, hostility--masquerading as gross inattention--to ability grouping), SIPPI is a bridge to nowhere.
SIPPI appears to be aligned with the Seven Keys to College Readiness mid-level benchmarks for performance. Mid-level benchmarks define “advanced-level” courses. Mid-level benchmarks cannot drive high-level performance.
So SIPPI is a data screen to project closing gaps in accessing fake “advanced-level programming” calibrated to mid-level Seven Keys benchmarks: in short, another red zone initiative.
SIPPI should not result in the elimination of binary GT/no GT Grade 2 global screening: that would be illegal. Nor should SIPPI prompt the revision of Policy IOA around SIPPI’s mid-level aims. SIPPI focuses on placement; current Policy IOA focuses on programs. The Board likewise should demand that high-level programs (with accompanying high-level performance targets and high-level data screens) be implemented in every grade, course and school.
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posted Oct 23, 2010 9:08 AM by GTA Administrator
INTERNATIONAL
Mind & Meaning: Gifted children have their own burdens 10/18, Irish Independent
NATIONAL
Factory schools 10/21, Village News Online
Obama: Future depends on science, math education 10/18, Yahoo!/The Associated Press
Review: Book series helps teachers, parents guide learners who are gifted 10/12, Wired.com/Geek Dad blog
ARIZONA
Gifted teachers set an example for everyone 10/15, Payson Roundup
COLORADO
Ethnic imbalances persist in gifted programs 10/19, Education News Colorado
Applications surge for DPS' highly gifted program 10/19, INDenverTimes.com
Parents say gifted kids need school 10/19, Longmont Daily Times-Call
CONNECTICUT
Danbury's gifted to get new program 10/18, The News-Times (Danbury, Conn.)
MINNESOTA
'School within a school' proposed for gifted elementary students in Rochester 10/15, Post-Bulletin
MISSOURI
Gifted programs dealing with budget cuts 10/21, Southeast Missourian
Center for Gifted Education says 'so long' to Bernadette Drive home 10/18, Columbia Missourian
NEW JERSEY
The Hudson School announces Saturday and Summer programs for gifted students 10/19, The Jersey Journal - NJ.com
NEW YORK
New TriBeCa School Serves Gifted Children With Learning Disabilities 10/19, DNAInfo.com
TENNESSEE
MNP students get boost 10/18, The Daily News Journal (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
WISCONSIN
DPI to audit Madison's 'talented and gifted' programming 10/15, Wisconsin State Journal |
posted Oct 17, 2010 10:27 AM by GTA Administrator
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updated Oct 23, 2010 9:08 AM
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INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
COLORADO
FLORIDA
NORTH CAROLINA
OHIO
TEXAS
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