Gifted education supporters in the U.S. Senate are circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter urging the appropriations committee to allocate $11.25 million for the Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act in 2009.

The Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act is the only federal program that specifically addresses the needs of gifted and talented children. The act was passed in 1988 to support the development of talent in U.S. schools. The Javits Act does not fund local gifted education programs. The purpose of the Javits Act is to orchestrate a coordinated program of scientifically-based research, demonstration projects, innovative strategies, and similar activities that build and enhance the ability of elementary and secondary schools to meet the special educational needs of gifted and talented students.

The Javits Act focuses resources on identifying and serving students who are traditionally underrepresented in gifted and talented programs, particularly economically disadvantaged, limited English proficient, and disabled students, to help reduce gaps in achievement and to encourage the establishment of equal educational opportunities for all U.S. students. Click here to download a PDF file that offers an overview of some of the ways in which the Javits program is making a difference for students from underrepresented populations.

Contact Your Senators and Urge Support

We have until April 1 to help secure Senate cosigners for the letter. Please contact your senators and urge them to support gifted children by adding their name to the Grassley/Dodd letter which urges the appropriations committee to allocate $11.25 million for the Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act. Click here for a copy of the letter, as well as the list of senators who have already added their names. Fifty three members of the House of Representatives have already cosigned a similar letter.

Contacting your senators via the Web is easy. Just visit the U.S. Senate's Web site, locate your senators, and fill out a brief Web form. 

When I filled out my two senators' Web forms, I wrote the request copied below. Feel free to use some or all of the information I wrote when you contact your senators.

I am writing Senator [NAME OF SENATOR] to urge [HIM/HER] to support gifted children and gifted education by adding [HIS/HER] name to the Grassley/Dodd "Dear Colleague" letter which is currently being circulated in the Senate that urges the appropriations committee to allocate $11.25 million for the Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act in 2009.

The Jacob Javits grants are very important to gifted education and gifted children. The Javits Act focuses resources on identifying and serving students who are traditionally underrepresented in gifted and talented programs, particularly economically disadvantaged, limited English proficient, and disabled students, to help reduce gaps in achievement and to encourage the establishment of equal educational opportunities for all U.S. students.

I hope the Senator will support the Jacob Javits Act by signing the Grassley/Dodd letter.

Thank you for considering this request.

Best wishes,

[YOUR NAME]