This year, one of the bills I’m sponsoring would create a task force to look at ways to retain and grow our academic and intellectual talent. HB 646 would create the Task Force on the Future of Gifted Education in Mississippi. Over the past couple of years, several conversations have stoked an interest in reinvigorating the conversation on cultivating and retaining talent in Mississippi. In education policy, much of our effort is spent on trying to “bring up the bottom,” meaning, helping kids who are behind get to proficiency and then exceed it. The state spends a lot of money on reading tutors, early childhood education in at-risk populations and other interventions. Are these necessary? Of course. We want every child to be equipped once they enter the workforce. However, sometimes amid the focus on not leaving a child behind, we fail to pay sufficient attention to challenging and growing those students who are at a high level academically or intellectually. One constituent termed this “not holding a child back.” Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Frances Karnes, Mississippi has one of the more comprehensive gifted education classes in the early years and AP classes in the later years. However, in recent years, the focus on driving further investment and innovation in gifted education, more diverse and challenging educational opportunities and retaining talent in Mississippi has waned. Part of this is because of lingering effects of the recession (and subsequent lack of funding), and school districts are rightly focusing all resources on basic classroom instruction. Either way, I believe it’s time take up this cause again. So, why a task force? First, I believe synergy and good ideas can be fostered when a diverse group of people with a common vision get around the table and exchange ideas. Secondly, I’ve found that major policy moves and/or investments require a large group of stakeholders recommending them and pushing them. As much as I may like to think that my opinion alone changes the hearts and minds of my colleagues, I realize that I’m one of 122 in the House, and there’s an additional 52 folks in the Chamber down the hall. Finally, I try to be practical. During an election year, very few major policy changes will occur. That’s why several of my bills include study committees that can yield actual results next year. HB 646 can be accessed by clicking here: billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2015/pdf/HB/0600-0699/HB0646IN.pdf It’s by no means perfect, and I have already received great feedback from a school board member, my Parent Advisory Council and a longtime gifted education instructor. One change will be reducing the number of legislators in the group and putting a former gifted student, teacher and/or parent. But iif you have feedback on the composition of the task force or its scope of focus, please pass it along. I’ll need to turn in revisions by the end of the day in order to have it ready for committee tomorrow.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:45:39 +0000
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