Senate Committee Votes to Eliminate Dedicated Funding for Gifted and Talented Education; Congressmen Rebuff Elimination Attempts in Letter to House of Representatives

Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee – the policy making body tasked with deciding how to spend federal monies in the Senate – voted to eliminate the only dedicated funding stream focused on high-ability, low-income students.     While this is a significant setback in the annual Congressional funding process, CEC now turns its advocacy attention to the House of Representatives where two Congressmen are leading the effort to oppose eliminating gifted education funding. 

  A loss of funding for the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students program will likely result in ending all federally funded research in gifted education, which has led to the development of best practices, including identification and instructional strategies. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to combine the $7.5 million dedicated to the Javits program with the much larger and far broader Institution of Education Sciences.    In the past, at the urging of CEC and other organizations who speak for this vulnerable population, the Committee had rejected misguided efforts to abandon the Javits program.  This year, however, under the pressure to address the growing budget deficit, policymakers decided to consolidate the Javits program.  CEC and its members were actively engaged in opposing the Senate’s effort.  CEC thanks all who called their Senators today.  Outreach to Senate offices helps raise awareness of this small program which impacts an overlooked population of students.   Now, we turn our advocacy focus to the House of Representatives.  Today, two members of the House of Representatives –Rep. Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Gallegly (R-CA) – started circulating a letter opposing the elimination of the Javits program.   It is critical that many Representatives sign onto this letter as the House Appropriations Committee will consider its funding legislation after the Congressional Recess (month of August).     CEC’s Legislative Action Center makes contacting Congress easy and fast!  Take Action Now!   As the legislative process continues, CEC will provide timely updates on the status of federal funding for special and gifted education programs.    Read CEC’s Letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee Opposing this Elimination  

Read CEC’s ESEA Reauthorization Recommendations Which Include Gifted Education