Happy New Year from GAGC! We have a very busy new year ahead of us!

We hope you have registered for our 2012 conference March 15-16, Callaway Gardens - A Path to Transformation -
How can Gifted Education contribute to positive transformation of schools during these rapidly changing times, not only for our most able learners, but for all students?

 Key note speakers include:

Dr. Joseph Renzulli, Professor, University of Connecticut; Director of National Research Center 

Jean Watts, Teacher and Author of two humorous books related to gifted children

Dr. Brian Housand, Assistant Professor, East Carolina University

Dr. Sally Krisel, Director Innovative and Advanced Programs, Hall County Schools; NAGC Board of Directors

 For more information about these speakers and convention updates, select the Events tab.

Funding for Gifted Education in 2012

Just before Christmas, the Congress approved a package of appropriations bills to fund federal agencies and programs through September 2012. The "omnibus" bill does not include funding for the Javits program, which was de-funded in 2011, but the report that accompanies the omnibus appropriations bill includes some supportive language for gifted education.

The "report language" urges the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), the U.S. Department of Education's research arm, to continue research into the learning needs of gifted and talented students, to retain a national research center on the gifted, and to include gifted and talented children in the key data collection efforts and reports developed by IES. NAGC and CEC will discuss with Department officials several ways in which IES can meet Congress's intent to continue this critical research.

Gifted students have been fortunate to have long-time friends in the Congress who lead the effort to secure support for funding for the Javits program each year. Gifted education supporters have done a great job in developing bipartisan support in both the House and Senate for the needs of gifted students. It's imperative that we keep up the education and advocacy efforts with every Members of Congress so that there is increased understanding and support that can be translated into federal initiatives.


- McCall C. Govignon, President, Georgia Association for Gifted Children