HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SJM 8019

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Brief Description:  Petitioning Congress to consider formula grants for gifted and talented education programs in its reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Sponsors:  Senators Eide, Patterson, Johnson, Kohl‑Welles, Rasmussen, McDonald, McAuliffe, Sellar, Roach, Kline, B. Sheldon and Gardner.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  2/23/00, 2/24/00 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$The President of the United States and Congress are encouraged to include grants to states for gifted and talented education programs when considering reauthorization of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives Quall, Democratic Co-Chair; Talcott, Republican Co-Chair; Haigh, Democratic Vice Chair; Schindler, Republican Vice Chair; Carlson; Cox; Keiser; Rockefeller; Santos; D. Schmidt; Schual-Berke; Stensen; Thomas and Wensman.

Staff:  Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

Background:

Currently, the U.S. Congress is considering the Gifted and Talented Students Education Act of 1999.  This bill would authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to states for use by public schools to develop or expand gifted and talented education programs. 

Summary of Bill:

The President of the United States and Congress are encouraged to include grants to states for gifted and talented education programs when considering reauthorization of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  None.

Testimony For:  Schools need to serve all children, including gifted and talented students who have become invisible in the current educational system.  The educational system cannot put learning ceilings on some students while raising standards for others.  Passage of this memorial would be an important acknowledgment of the needs of gifted and talented students. 

Testimony Against:  None. 

Testified:   (In support)  Connie Baesman, Northwest Gifted Child Association; Barbara Poyneer, Washington Coalition for Gifted Education.