State Rep. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster, introduced House Resolution 139 (HR 139) that called for a comprehensive study of educational programs available to gifted students in Pennsylvania school districts.

The House Education Committee passed this resolution with a unanimous vote to send it to the full House for second consideration on April 8 and a final house vote April 9 or 10.

The Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education fully supports HR 139 and asks for help to make this gifted study a reality.

HR 139 would task the legislative budget and finance committee to examine and identify all programs and services provided to gifted students in Pennsylvania school districts including:

· the process for identifying children as gifted

· the process for developing and implementing gifted individualized education plans

· the programs and services provided to gifted students

· the entities that provide programs and services to gifted students

· the cost of providing such programs and services

· a demographic breakdown of the children who benefit from such programs and services

It will also ask the committee to

· Consult with stakeholders, experts and parents of gifted students

· Report findings to the House Education Committee within six months of the adoption of the resolution

· Recommend changes to law, regulation or policy that are needed to improve special education for the gifted for gifted children in the commonwealth

PAGE urges supporters to contact their representatives now to solicit help for HR 139.

You can find your legislator through the website www.legis.state.pa.us. Type in your address, click on your representative's name then follow the link to his or her website for contact information. You can email your representative directly by clicking on the envelope icon.

The vote will take place within the next week, so please do this now. Ask your representative to support HR 139 and add a personal message as to why gifted education is important. Short and concise messages are best. Representatives can be directed to get more information by visiting the PAGE website at www.giftedpage.org or the website for the National Association of Gifted Children at www.nagc.org.

PAGE also encourages supporters to send a thank you message to their representative after the vote.

The full House vote is the final step to make a Study of Gifted Education in Pennsylvania a reality. Make your voice heard.

More information on through Aument's website at www.repaument.com.

Dawn Settle is president of the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education and Donna Benson is the PAGE legislative liaison