S-3243.3  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8019

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

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

Read first time 01/18/2000.  Referred to Committee on Education.

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

    TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

    WHEREAS, Every child is unique and deserves a stimulating and challenging education regardless of ability; and

    WHEREAS, True equity involves providing an appropriate education to every learner; and

    WHEREAS, Our nation's diverse student population includes academically gifted boys and girls from every region and from all ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; and

    WHEREAS, Gifted children are unusually swift and efficient learners in their areas of strength and therefore require in those domains a different pace, depth, and level of education than is ordinarily provided at their age; and

    WHEREAS, Being gifted doesn't automatically make these children better students, however, gifted students learn faster and in different ways than typical students, causing special educational needs; and

    WHEREAS, Only in conjunction with appropriate school challenges can gifted children realize their enormous potential contribution to our society and its citizens; and

    WHEREAS, A nation seeking to provide for world class education cannot afford to exclude its most capable students from appropriate and equitable opportunities for educational growth in the classroom; and

    WHEREAS, Congress has sent a message about the importance of gifted student success by funding the Javits Program of research and demonstration services with an emphasis on underserved groups;

    NOW, THEREFORE, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully entreat that Congress continue to help meet the unique special needs of gifted students by including formula grants to states for gifted and talented education programs (HR 637 and S 505) in its consideration of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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