Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Monday, February 4, 2008

Governor Fletcher has proclaimed February 4th - 10th, 2008 as Gifted Education Week in Kentucky. Kentucky was one of the earliest states to recognize the need for differentiated education for students identified as gifted and talented. Fayette County makes a tremendous commitment to the education of their identified gifted and talented students from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Although the state helps with a small grant, Fayette County has developed award winning magnet schools and a variety of differentiated programs to provide for the needs and abilities of our gifted/talented children.

The Gifted/Talented Services Office at It’s About Kids Support Services has sponsored a poster contest for g/t students who wanted to create a simile “Gifted education is like_______” or “Giftedness is like_______” Award winning posters will be displayed in the hall next to the service office, room 104 on the first floor at Support Services throughout Gifted Education Week. Winning poster creators will be awarded a $25 gift certificate to Joseph Beth Bookstore.

Students, parents and educators remember that contacting House and Senate legislators is more important than ever if the state allocation for gifted and talented education is to be increased. The Kentucky Association for Gifted Education (KAGE) will be asking the state legislature to increase funding for gifted education to $25 million. The funding presently is about $7 million for thousands of identified students. Legislators must know from you the importance of gifted funding. If they do not hear from you, legislators assume the issue is not important. Let them know. Encourage others in our community to communicate the message as well. Watch the KAGE web page for a listing of KAGE Legislative Priorities to use as talking points.