Dear Gifted Advocates,
Since the ISBE’s proposed budget does not include a line item for gifted education, we are asking once again that you contact your legislators to help restore funding in Illinois for gifted education. At the bottom of this message is a list of legislators who can restore this funding. Please contact them IMMEDIATEDLY to urge this action. A sample letter might say something like:
Dear___,
My name is ___, and I live at street, city, state, ZIP CODE.
I am writing to you as an advocate for gifted children in Illinois. We greatly appreciate the restoration of language regarding gifted education to the Illinois School Code; however, without funding this specialized education cannot occur. In order for ALL children in Illinois to have an equal opportunity to learn in our public schools, the state budget needs a line item specifically designated for Gifted Education. We need to provide teachers with training specific to the needs of gifted learners. Gifted programs are essential to the academic growth of our advanced learners. Please amend the governor’s proposed budget to include a line item for gifted education.
If we deluge our state legislators with phone calls, faxes, e-mails, and letters, we may have a chance yet. However, it is urgent that we act upon this quickly. The final budget decisions will be made in the next few weeks.