Starting a Parent Advocacy Group

Both parents and schools can benefit from parent advocacy groups. Parenting a gifted child can be a tiring journey if you don't reach out to others who have experienced, or are facing, similar situations. Sometimes parents need to gather together to share frustrations or celebrations. At other times, parents seek a more long term solution to challenges their children may be facing in the school or in their gifted classroom. Either way, if the former is the case or if the latter is true, with the support of others in your community, a flexible toolbox of engaging strategies, and a reserve of knowledge you will be more effective for your child if you become an advocate. Thus, an effective parent advocacy group is needed.

Click Here for the Parent Advocacy Brochure for more information

Why Is It Important to Advocate for Gifted Children and Youth?

Gifted children are the only exceptional learners not protected under federal law for a free and appropriate public education.

Less than 2 cents of every 100 educational dollars is spent on gifted education in the U.S.

Gifted children are at a greater risk for underachievement.

Many gifted children have mastered 35-50% of the school curriculum in the five core subject areas before their school year begins.

Without appropriate challenges, gifted students are likely to regress to normal or below normal levels of achievement.

America's top students do not perform well when compared with their counterparts around the world.

Most public school teachers are not equipped to deal with the special needs of gifted children because they have no specific training in gifted education.