At the beginning of March this year, Dr. PJ Sedillo (NMAG President-Elect) and I attended the annual State Affiliates Conference in Washington, DC. Attendees (teachers, administrators and gifted specialists) from across the country met to talk about issues related to children identified as gifted, both in our respective states, as well as nationally. Our report focuses on the new ESSA.

President’s Report on the Every Student Succeeds Act

Photo report: Senator Heinric Christy Jewell-Roth Dr. PJ Sedillo

Christy Jewell-Roth, Senator Martin Heinrich, and Dr. PJ Sedillo in Washington DC during the NAGC State Affiliates Conference.

One topic, in particular, was of great interest to those of us in gifted education, that of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). In December 2015, President Obama signed this federal legislation into law. As you likely already know, this is the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and will replace No Child Left Behind, beginning in the 2016-17 school year. There are some great provisions in the law that relate to gifted students, which have not been there previously. Here is some of what NAGC’s Executive Director had to say about the legislation in a press release:

Photo Report of Senator Udall, Christy Jewell-Roth.Dr. PJ Sedillo

Dr. PJ Sedillo, Senator Tom Udall, and Christy Jewell-Roth in Washinton, DC during the NAGC State Affiliates Conference

“ESEA Reauthorization marks the first time that Congress makes clear that Title I funds may be used to identify and serve gifted students, which will ensure that high-ability students from low-income families and other under-served populations receive the challenging instruction that they require to achieve their potential,” NAGC Executive Director M. René Islas said. “ESEA requires states to say how they will use valuable training dollars to equip teachers in how to identify high-potential learners and to meet the academic needs of such high-performers, and it requires school districts that receive such funds to address the unique needs of gifted students. In addition, the law retains the authorization of the high-impact Jacob Javits Gifted Education Grant program, which has yielded numerous strategies to identify and serve academically talented students, particularly those from communities that have historically been under-represented in such programs,” Islas added.

Photo of M. René Islas

NAGC Executive Director M. René Islas

On the last day of this conference, we were able to walk Capitol Hill and meet with our New Mexico senators and representatives, or their staff, and personally thank them for supporting ESSA, as all five of them voted yes. Now that the legislation has been signed into law, the hard work of rolling it out in the states, in phases, begins and NMAG hopes to be instrumental in this process. In relation to this, please also read the letter the NMAG board recently sent to our state officials.

(Related: NMAG’s Letter to Governor Martinez regarding Title I and Title II Funding for Gifted is Linked Here.)

Letter to Governor Martinez

Letter to Governor Martinez from NMAG

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About Christy Jewell-Roth

Christy Jewell-Roth is currently teaching K, 1st and 2nd grade students identified as gifted at North Star Elementary. She just finished her 26th year of teaching and holds a masters degree in Elementary Education. She is a past president of the New Mexico Association for the Gifted.