HCS HB 1745 -- GIFTED EDUCATION

SPONSOR:  Cunningham, 86 (Robb)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elementary
and Secondary Education by a vote of 12 to 0.

Currently, school districts are allowed to establish special
programs for gifted students.  This substitute requires the
identification of gifted students and the establishment of
programs and services for them.  Each school district must
annually submit its program and services to the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education for approval.  Districts will
fund their programs and services from their basic state aid or
local funding, and the substitute specifies how a district can
determine an appropriate amount of funding.  School districts
must include on their annual school accountability report card
information regarding their programs for gifted education.  The
report must specify whether the school has maintained a
state-approved gifted program within the last three years.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and
FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that 28 states mandate gifted
programs.  Missouri is one of eight states that do not provide
specific funding for gifted programs since the former gifted
categorical was included in the base of the new funding formula.
Some districts have dropped their gifted programs.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Lampe; Sue Winter,
Gifted Association of Missouri; Missouri State Teachers
Association; Missouri National Education Association; and
Missouri Federation of Teachers and School Related Personnel.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that it may create a
mandate for the programs without providing additional funding.

Testifying against the bill was Penney Rector, School
Administrators Coalition.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm