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P.A.T.S. Activity Zone
Welcome!
Welcome to the Internet home of Parenting Academically Talented Students (P.A.T.S.). We
hope that you will find it a useful source of information and support in your
parenting of your gifted child. P.A.T.S. feels that it is critical to keep the lines
of communication open in order to keep everyone informed and to continue to provide
valuable information for our members.
P.A.T.S. desires to foster an awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding the gifted child and gifted education in general. The more our members know about the needs of the gifted child, the better they are able to meet those needs and work with their school to address them. Each issue of our newsletter, Bright Horizons, focuses on an aspect of the gifted student and offers strategies and other resources to help you understand your child and how to meet their needs. We believe that knowledge and understanding goes a long way to proactively address any issues before they arise or become unmanagable.
It is our goal to work with other organizations for the gifted in Illinois in order to share knowledge, wisdom, and opportunies for our children. We welcome your feedback and suggestions so we can make this site more useful for you. Be sure to check out our newsletter, Bright Horizons, as well as our Activities page.
06/20/2007
"As you probably know, now that we are in "overtime" the House Republicans must put at least 5 votes on any budget bill, which puts them right in the middle of the negotiations. House Bill 4110 represents a proposed House Republican caucus State budget for FY 2008. Despite strong support for funding for gifted education by many House Republican members and Leader Cross himself, there does not appear to be any funding for gifted education in this proposal. There is also no funding for gifted education in Speaker Madigan's proposed budget, SB 1132, House Amendment #1. (There was $5 million for gifted in the version of SB 1132 that passed the Senate, but the House stripped it out)."
Our legislators need your voice to let them know that gifted education is NOT included in either proposed House budget and tell them to make good on their pledge to include $5 million for gifted education in the budget.
The text of both bills can be reviewed on the General Assembly's web site in PDF format. ISBE's budget begins on page 56 in HB 4110 and on page 1 of SB 1132, House Amendment #1.
If you do not know how to contact your legislators, go to www.vote-smart.org and enter your zipcode.
05/28/2007
P.A.T.S. desires to foster an awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding the gifted child and gifted education in general. The more our members know about the needs of the gifted child, the better they are able to meet those needs and work with their school to address them. Each issue of our newsletter, Bright Horizons, focuses on an aspect of the gifted student and offers strategies and other resources to help you understand your child and how to meet their needs. We believe that knowledge and understanding goes a long way to proactively address any issues before they arise or become unmanagable.
It is our goal to work with other organizations for the gifted in Illinois in order to share knowledge, wisdom, and opportunies for our children. We welcome your feedback and suggestions so we can make this site more useful for you. Be sure to check out our newsletter, Bright Horizons, as well as our Activities page.
06/20/2007
Contact House members to reinstate gifted funding in the amount of $5 million
Phil Milsk, IAGC's Policy Advisor writes:"As you probably know, now that we are in "overtime" the House Republicans must put at least 5 votes on any budget bill, which puts them right in the middle of the negotiations. House Bill 4110 represents a proposed House Republican caucus State budget for FY 2008. Despite strong support for funding for gifted education by many House Republican members and Leader Cross himself, there does not appear to be any funding for gifted education in this proposal. There is also no funding for gifted education in Speaker Madigan's proposed budget, SB 1132, House Amendment #1. (There was $5 million for gifted in the version of SB 1132 that passed the Senate, but the House stripped it out)."
Our legislators need your voice to let them know that gifted education is NOT included in either proposed House budget and tell them to make good on their pledge to include $5 million for gifted education in the budget.
The text of both bills can be reviewed on the General Assembly's web site in PDF format. ISBE's budget begins on page 56 in HB 4110 and on page 1 of SB 1132, House Amendment #1.
If you do not know how to contact your legislators, go to www.vote-smart.org and enter your zipcode.
05/28/2007
Former D15 Gifted Coordinator retires
Carolyn Langner, 2nd grade teacher at Valley View school retired at the end of this school year. Carolyn is a long time supporter of the gifted and gifted education. She was the gifted coordinator for District 15, along with Sandi Heffelfinger until the program was disbanded in 2003. Her voice and commitment to her students will be missed in the district.
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