GTRG D303 St. Charles Illinois - Advocacy Alert 10/19/2007

ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN Advocacy Committee

GOAL: Educate the decision-makers about the needs of gifted children

This ALERT is posted on the IAGC HomePage http://www.iagcgifted.org

Gifted Students Need Your Support

The Illinois State Board of Education is holding budget hearings for the FY'09 budget. While gifted education finally realized $5 million in funding in the FY¹08 budget, it is not nearly enough to begin serving the gifted students in Illinois. The budget hearings are the first in a series of legislative procedures that could ultimately result in increased funding for gifted education. You can make a difference by attending a hearing and speaking on behalf of the educational needs of gifted students in Illinois.

It is really quite simple..

Get to the meeting early.
Sign in as soon as you arrive. Those addressing the board are called in the order in which they sign-in.
Prepare a brief statement ahead of time and bring 15 copies with you to the meeting.
Tell a personal or professional story about a gifted child you know and how funding is needed to meet his/her special educational needs.
If you have a child/student who could speak to the board, that would be even better.
Be polite and respectful and most of all, be passionate!

If you plan to attend a hearing, have questions or need additional information please contact IAGC Advocacy Committee Co-Chair Kris McElligatt kmcellig@comcast.net in advance of the meeting.

Thank you,
The IAGC Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs
Cathy Greene, Nancy Hertzog and Kris McElligatt

Illinois State Board Budget Hearings Schedule
The Illinois State Board of Education Finance and Audit Committee has set its FY 09 Budget Hearings. Those wishing to participate in these hearings may sign-in upon arrival at each location. Please provide 15 copies of written testimony.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 7 to 9 p.m. Glen Ellyn Library
Hadley Junior High School, 240 Hawthorne Ave., Glen Ellyn School District 41, Glen Ellyn

Thursday, November 1, 2007 6 to 8 p.m. Rock Island Library
Rock Island High School, 1400 25th Ave., Rock Island/Milan School District 41, Rock Island

Monday, November 5, 2007 6 to 8 p.m. Des Plaines Room L 101
Maine Township High School West, 1766 Wolf Road, Maine Township High School District 207, Des Plaines

Tuesday, November 13, 2007 6 to 8 p.m. Rantoul Media Room
Champaign & Ford Counties ROE Office, 200 S. Fredrick St., Rantoul

Wednesday, November 14, 2007 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Springfield ISBE Board Room
4th Floor, 100 N. First St., Springfield

Tuesday, November 20, 2007 2 to 4 p.m. Chicago James R. Thompson Center
9th Floor Conference Room 9-040, 100 W. Randolph St., Chicago

Wednesday, November 28, 2007 6 to 8 p.m. Belleville Conference Room A & B
St. Clair County ROE, 100 S. Illinois St., Belleville

All State Board of Education meetings listed on the agenda will be accessible to persons with disabilities. Persons planning to attend who need special accommodations should contact the Board office no later than the date prior to the meeting. Contact the Superintendent's office at the State Board of Education, 100 North First Street, Springfield, Illinois 62777-0001. Phone: 217-782-2221 TTY/TDD: 217-782-1900; Fax: 217-785-3972.

For further information, please call the State Board of Education at 217-782-2223. You can access Illinois State Board of Education web site at: http://www.isbe.net/

If you have any questions or need more information, go to IAGC Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs:

Cathy Greene - Normal greeneca@unit5.org
Nancy Hertzog - Champaign nhertzog@uiuc.edu
Kris McElligatt - Mt. Prospect kmcellig@comcast.net

GOAL: Educate the decision-makers about the needs of gifted children
ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN
http://www.iagcgifted.org an affiliate of NAGC http://www.nagc.org/