We have only 3 weeks left to let legislators know that we need gifted funding restored as a line item in the budget. Without funding the language legislation has no teeth. Currently districts are not required to have any type of gifted programming.

Some key legislators need to be contacted. If you know any of these folks, PLEASE help IAGC by contacting them. Key Democratic Senators are Hunter, Trotter and Schoenberg, who chair the 3 Senate Appropriations Committees, Halvorson, who is the Majority Leader, and, of course, Emil Jones. Hunter chairs the committee that heard the ISBE budget. She's a Chicago Democrat. Halvorson is from the Southern Suburbs (Chicago Heights, Crete, Monee, Peotone, Manteno, University Park, Sauk Village, Park Forest). Her district goes down to parts of Kankakee. She's usually very responsive to constituents.

Ultimately, the budget is agreed to by the 4 leaders and the Governor. That means Speaker Madigan, President Jones, Leader Cross and Leader Watson ultimately will decide if gifted is to be included. If you live in their districts or know folks who do, try to set up meetings or call them.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide.
Sally Waker, Executive Director
Illinois Association for Gifted Children

Here is contact information for the key people:

• 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

To view examples of advocacy action steps, go to www.iagcgifted.org/advocacy/IAGCGiftedParent%20Info05_files/frame.htm