An urgent message from the Michigan Association for Gifted Children is shown below, followed by a suggestion for an email that you can use as the basis for asking our legislators to fund gifted education THIS WEEK.
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February 28, 2013
Dear Families with Gifted and Talented Children and Youth in Michigan:
A joint meeting of the House Appropriations and Education Committees is taking place
next Wednesday in Lansing at the State Capitol Building to discuss allocations for the
State Aid Act that funds education in Michigan.
Since there is no funding for gifted education in Michigan, only children whose families
can afford private gifted schools or those fortunate enough to reside in the few school
districts that offer gifted programs receive an education commensurate with their
abilities.
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) asked the House Appropriations
and Education Committees to approve an allocation of 1% of the Michigan education
budget for gifted students. The money would ensure:
- Teacher training in gifted education for public school teachers,
- The development, implementation, and assessment of gifted and talented programs that take place during the school day for gifted and talented students,
- High quality gifted and talented materials, resources, programs, and services for gifted students in grades K-12.
Please contact them immediately and let them know how much the 1% allocation would mean to your own and other gifted children. Briefly, share your stories with them; tell them what it has been like for your children and families without access to gifted education.
In addition, please ask family members, friends, teachers, and administrators to do the
same. Every person you know who is 18 years of age and older, including different
members of the same household, can and should send a separate communication,
because each person is a separate constituent. This increases the number of letters
legislators receive and therefore multiplies and underscores the importance and
urgency of this issue.
Together we CAN change the future for gifted children in Michigan!
With Appreciation,
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children Advocacy Committee
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Email addresses to send to (members of House Appropriations and Educations Committees): joehaveman@house.mi.gov, alpscholka@house.mi.gov, lisalyons@house.mi.gov, rayfranz@house.mi.gov, Hughcrawford@house.mi.gov, Kevindaley@house.mi.gov, Bobgenetski@house.mi.gov, Petelund@house.mi.gov, Tommcmillin@house.mi.gov, Tomhooker@house.mi.gov, Bradfordjacobsen@house.mi.gov, Amandaprice@house.mi.gov, Kenyonker@house.mi.gov, Ellenlipton@house.mi.gov, Davidknezek@house.mi.gov, Winniebrinks@house.mi.gov, Thomasstallworth@house.mi.gov, Collenelamonte@house.mi.gov, Theresaabed@house.mi.gov, EileenKowall@house.mi.gov, MattLori@house.mi.gov, BillRogers@house.mi.gov, JohnWalsh@house.mi.gov, JonBumstead@house.mi.gov, AnthonyForlini@house.mi.gov, PeterMacGregor@house.mi.gov, GregMacMaster@house.mi.gov, NancyJenkins@house.mi.gov, PaulMuxlow@house.mi.gov, EarlPoleski@house.mi.gov, PhilPotvin@house.mi.gov, MichaelMcCready@house.mi.gov, MartinHowrylak@house.mi.gov, RobVerHeulen@house.mi.gov, RashidaTlaib@house.mi.gov, TerryBrown@house.mi.gov, FredDurhal@house.mi.gov, SeanMcCann@house.mi.gov, BrandonDillon@house.mi.gov, SarahRoberts@house.mi.gov, AndrewKandrevas@house.mi.gov, PamFaris@house.mi.gov, AdamZemke@house.mi.gov, SamSingh@house.mi.gov —- Example email body text: Dear Members of the House Appropriations and Education Committees: As you consider education funding, please act in favor of MAGC’s request to address the unique and currently-unmet needs of gifted children. The Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC). MAGC asked the House Appropriations and Education Committees to approve an allocation of 1% of the Michigan education budget for gifted students. The money would ensure: -Teacher training in gifted education for public school teachers, -The development, implementation, and assessment of gifted and talented programs that take place during the school day for gifted and talented students, -High quality gifted and talented materials, resources, programs, and services for gifted students in grades K-12. Presently these students are neglected by our public schools, which leads to behavior problems, emotional instability, and a substantial number of students being told that they should settle for being average. Michigan’s schools can do better than this. Respectfully, [YOUR NAME]
