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HB 1021 - Language & Meaning
HB 1021, Early Kindergarten Gifted Children (Peniston/Spence): This bill ties the expansion of preschool and kindergarten together with initiatives for gifted students. It provides early access to kindergarten or first grade for students who are younger than age 6 and have been identified as "highly advanced gifted."
Equity in Excellence
WASHINGTON (June 28, 2010) – House leaders have introduced bipartisan legislation
that would take a significant step forward in reversing the federal government's historic
underinvestment in high-potential students.
Equity in Excellence
Efforts on the National level to improve Gifted Education.
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In 2007 and 2008 the State of Colorado passed important new Gifted Education legislation-2007 HB 1244 and 2008 HB 1021.
Simply put, HB 1244 changed the language used by Colorado from "may" serve gifted to "shall" serve gifted in regards to identified gifted students, their education and the local use of gifted funding. With the passage of HB 1244 the amount of state funds allotted to "Gifted" didn't change, but the message was strong-Gifted students in Colorado must receive an appropriate education with those funds and administrative units* would need to follow a State Performance Plan for Gifted.
*Eagle County School District is a part of the Mountain BOCES administrative unit.
In spring 2008 a second important bill for Gifted Education passed into law-HB 1021 Early Access Bill. This provides early access to kindergarten and first grade for identified highly gifted children younger than age six. This is a small number of children, but a necessary protection for those who are at-risk by being made to wait to start school until they are "age-ready."
HB 1021 Early Access Bill was signed along with the Governor's Education Initiative Legislation SB 212 Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids (CAP4K)--the School Finance Act with an ADDITIONAL $200,000 for gifted education, and other education-related measures. The governor's initiative is a push to getting at-risk 3 and 4 year olds into preschool, increasing the slots for full-time kindergarten and significant funding for capital construction for schools and alternative teacher compensation plans.
Colorado netted $400,000 in new state money for gifted education!! Years of patient persistence, strategic planning, active state and local GT affiliates, and nine annual CAGT Legislative Days at the Capitol show positive measurable results!