S

Growing Gifted Learners: Through the School District

and CommunityNorth Carolina AIG Coordinators’ Institute

Julia Link Roberts, Ed.D.Western Kentucky University

Advocacy

Classroom School School District State Nation

Advocacy at the Classroom Level

Effective Dreaded

What does an effective advocate look like?

Educators must be advocate, too.

Principles of Advocacy

• A clear, focus message is known and shared by advocates.

• A well-developed plan serves as the blueprint for action.

• Relationships are in place with key decision-makers.• Personalized communication is effective.• The number of advocates matters.• Plan for speedy communication• Be ready to persevere.

S

State-Level Advocacy

What are the issues?

Collaboration Counts

1 parent = A Fruit Cake 2 parents = A Fruit Cake and a

Friend 3 Parents = Troublemakers 5 Parents = Let’s Have a Meeting 10 Parents = We’d Better Listen 25 Parents = Our Dear Friends 50 Parents = A Powerful

Organization

The Excellence Gap

What is it?

Mind the (Other) Gap

How will this [decision, policy] affect our brightest students?

How will this [decision, policy] help other students begin to achieve at high levels?

Policies

Define what educational institutions choose to do or not do about a perceived need.

Guide how resources are allocated and used. Define the mechanisms by which opportunities for

targeted students will be offered. Should be comprehensive enough to ensure

adequate impetus for program development and service delivery.

Joyce Van Tassel-Baska,

Policy Issues

1.2.3.4.5.

Unlocking Emergent Talent

Developing the talents of intellectually and academically talented children as well as potentially talented children from low-income backgrounds

Excellence in Education: What does it look like…?

What would you see in a classroom that demonstrates excellence in education?

What would you see in a school that demonstrates excellence in education?

What would the data say about such a school?

Expectaions?

Grade Expectations: How Marks and Education Policies Shape Students’ Ambitions

Programme for International Student Assessment/OECD

Checklist for a Gold Standard School

Focus on Continuous Progress Talent Development Policies that Remove the Learning Ceiling Ongoing Professional Development

Things to ponder…

What policies do you have in place to support academically gifted children?

What policies do you need to get in place to support academically gifted students?

Force-Field Analysis