SENGinar - From Guidance to Action: Helping GT Families Organize to Change Policies in Public Schools

Redefining and Expanding the Role of Gifted Stakeholders. Families of gifted children often feel helpless in public schools, but in many cases, parents can work together to change policies and improve public schools for gifted learners. Research supports the critical role of academic opportunity in supporting student motivation and self-esteem. When schools fail to follow best practices and applicable GT laws, the result can be underachievement, lower self-esteem, and negative coping behaviors. Too often, advocacy is necessary to ensure that schools can both identify and meet the needs of gifted students in high-risk populations, including twice-exceptional and low-SES students. Gifted students need access to appropriately challenging curriculum and opportunities to work with gifted peers, and without continuous advocacy for gifted services, this may not happen in grades K - 12. Well-informed parents can bring about the changes needed to ensure that all gifted students have the opportunities they need to…