January 2016

Happy New Year!

Great News! ESSA Update from NAGC
What Parents Need to Know about Smart Kids (FREE)
  - Mount Vernon, January 6, 6:00pm
  - Lake Stevens, January 14, 6:30pm
Invite us to speak to your group!
Gifted Ed Day on Jan 29, 2016
Temple Grandin in Spokane
Davidson Young Scholars, Academy, Fellowships, THINK
Webinars on Wednesdays (FREE discount code)
SENGinars
Highly Capable Programs Handbook
Calling all Parent Groups!
Recent Articles

Great news! ESSA includes specific provisions for gifted!
(Update from nagc.org)

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the name of the 2015 legislation that revised and reauthorized the federal K-12 education law known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).

Prior to passage of ESSA, the law was referred to by the moniker No Child Left Behind.

And for the first time, ESSA/ESEA also includes several provisions, taken from the TALENT Act, that support gifted and talented students.

ESSA/ESEA is the source of most federal K-12 education initiatives, such as Title I schools, accountability for student achievement, programs for English language learners, math-science partnerships, and Title II professional development.  Approximately $21 billion in federal funds under ESEA is distributed to the states and school districts each year through complex formulas based on student population and poverty and through individual grant programs.

Below are some resources to help advocates prepare to educate school leaders and policymakers on the new gifted education provisions in ESSA.  
Frequently Asked Questions - read this first 
More information  

Gifted Ed Day is Jan 29, 2016

Starts in the Columbia Room
Legislative Building (Lower Level)
Olympia, WA
9 am to 2 pm

The Coalition is getting ready for Gifted Education Day on January 29, 2016.

The Governor's proposed supplemental budget released on Dec. 17th actually slightly decreases HCP funding even though OSPI recommended an increase of nearly $2.5 million.

We need to increase our support in the Legislature for full funding of HCP.  Please plan to join other advocates in Olympia on January 29th. In view of the "no change" budget proposed by the Governor, our hopes lie with Legislators and the Court.

Here is our Handbook for the Day, containing background information on why the Highly Capable Program is entitled to full funding from the state as well as practical information for coming to Olympia.

The basic idea of Gifted Ed Day is to meet in the Columbia Room at 9am for a presentation, get a green scarf to identify you with our group, then split up to visit your district legislators individually or in groups. Be ready to tell your representatives why Gifted Ed is important to your family, and ask them to support HCP budget increases in this legislative session. Bringing kids is great, and well received, as is groups of people advocating together. Legislators respond when they hear from voters in their district.

If you plan to go to Olympia for Gifted Ed Day, NOW is the time to make appointments that day with your legislators.  Find your legislators here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/ 

If you have a question that isn't covered in the Handbook, please contact The Coalition for Gifted Education at [email protected]


Temple Grandin in Spokane

Whitworth University will welcome Temple Grandin, Ph.D., to its campus and to the Spokane community on Feb. 19-20 for a series of lectures sponsored by the Whitworth Center for Gifted Education and the university's special education department. Grandin is the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world. Her fascinating life, with all its challenges and successes, has been covered by countless media outlets, as well as by the movie industry.

Over two days, Grandin will present three lectures:

Whitworth's Gifted Education Institute, "The World Needs All Kinds of Minds"
Feb 19 - Day-long Institute for Educators
Temple Grandin is the featured speaker at Whitworth's Gifted Education Institute on Friday, Feb. 19, at 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in Cowles Auditorium at Whitworth University, with additional presentations from faculty from the Whitworth Special Education Department. This institute highlights the role that educators can take to encourage "2e" or "twice-exceptional" students: learners who are cognitively advanced, yet whose talents may be overlooked due to a disability (often ADHD or an autism spectrum disorder). Strategies and practices will be provided to address the range of diverse academic and emotional needs of such students. For more information, please visit the Whitworth Gifted Education Institute page. Registration fee is $125 (please reserve tickets at www.whitworth.edu/giftedinstituteregistration)

"Helping Different Kinds of Minds to be Successful"
Feb. 19 from 7-8:30pm - Public Lecture
Temple Grandin will share her personal story, as well as her insights into the vibrant populations known as exceptional children, on Friday, Feb. 19, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the North Central High School Auditorium (1600 N. Howard St., Spokane, Wash.). Included among the exceptional children and adolescents whose needs Grandin will address are gifted students as well as those who have intense support needs. Admission is $20; please reserve tickets at www.whitworth.edu/communityevent

"Understanding Animal Behavior"
Feb. 20 from 10:30am-noon - Public Lecture
Join Temple Grandin, an expert on animal behavior, on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 10:30 a.m.-noon in Weyerhaeuser Hall at Whitworth University. Grandin has designed humane handling systems for half the cattle-processing facilities in the U.S. and is a consultant with the meat industry in developing animal-welfare guidelines. In this presentation, Grandin will draw from her years of research and her own experience with autism to provide insights into how animals think, act and feel. Admission is $20; please reserve tickets at www.whitworth.edu/communityevent

What Parents (and Educators, Coaches, Grandparents...) Need to Know About Smart Kids - FREE

January 6, 6:00pm  
Mount Baker Middle School "commons"
2310 E Section St, Mt Vernon


January 14, 6:30pm  
Education Service Center 
12309 22nd St NE, Lake Stevens


Many parents are surprised to learn that their child's unique "quirks" are actually well-studied social & emotional behavior patterns that appear across large populations of highly intelligent children. Whether it's refusing to wear shirts with buttons or tags, overreacting to the slightest criticism, gravitating towards adults and older children, forgetting to turn in their homework, trouble with handwriting, anxiety about trying something new, or preferring a book to a party, these and many other perplexing behaviors are common in this population. Learn what's normal, what to expect as they grow, and why genuine challenge is vitally important for kids' social and emotional development, as well as developing their academic talents, from the preschool and elementary years all the way to high school and beyond. Presented by Austina De Bonte, President of NWGCA

If you are in the area, please join us for this FREE presentation, and spread the word! 
Davidson News Briefs

Davidson Young Scholars Application Available  
The national Davidson Young Scholars program provides FREE support, information and resources to families of profoundly gifted students.  Through an online community and annual event, Young Scholars have the opportunity to meet others with similar interests and abilities, and utilize their talents to maximize their educational potential and make a difference in the lives of others. Parents collaborate with a team of knowledgeable Family Consultants who provide individualized services based on each family's unique needs, including educational advocacy and planning, social and emotional development, and enrichment opportunities. Once enrolled, Davidson Young Scholars can access exclusive opportunities such as online courses and a summer camp for 8 to 12 year olds. The Davidson Young Scholars application deadline is the first of each month. Please visit the website to learn more: www.DavidsonGifted.org/YoungScholars

2016 Davidson Fellows $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 Scholarships
The Davidson Institute for Talent Development offers high-achieving young people across the country the opportunity to be named a 2016 Davidson Fellow, an honor accompanied by a $50,000, $25,000 or $10,000 scholarship in recognition of a significant piece of work in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Music, Literature, Philosophy or Outside the Box. Applicants must submit an original piece of work that is recognized as significant by experts in the field and that has the potential to make a positive contribution to society. The scholarship may be used at any accredited college or university. The deadline to apply is Feb. 10, 2016. For additional information, please visit www.DavidsonGifted.org/Fellows

2016 THINK Summer Institute - Three-Week Academic Residential Program
The Davidson Institute is seeking gifted teens to attend the 2016 THINK Summer Institute.  THINK is a three-week residential summer program on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno where students can earn up to six college credits by completing two university courses. The 2016 THINK Summer Institute will run from July 9 through July 30. Tuition is $3,500 and covers course credits, books and materials, room and board, and the cost of planned activities. Need-based scholarships are available. To qualify, students must be 13 to 16 years old during THINK and must submit a SAT or an ACT score report.  The application deadline is April 1, 2016. To learn more about THINK, please visit www.DavidsonGifted.org/THINK

The Davidson Academy of Nevada - Apply for 2016-2017 School Year
The Davidson Academy of Nevada, a free public day school for profoundly gifted pupils located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, is now accepting applications for the 2016-2017 school year. Classes at the Academy are not grouped by age-based grades, but by ability level, providing profoundly gifted young people an educational opportunity matched to their abilities, strengths and interests.  To attend the Davidson Academy, students must be at the middle or high school level across all subject areas and score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ or college entrance tests, such as the SAT or ACT. For admission details, please visit www.DavidsonAcademy.UNR.edu. Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis with a final application deadline of April 1, 2016. Interested families can meet current students and parents, faculty and staff, network with others and ask questions at Academy tours. For upcoming tour dates and to RSVP, visit www.DavidsonAcademy.UNR.edu/Tours



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Articles   
Life Lessons from Failed Parenting


A World of Online Opportunities

Overexcitabilities - Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them

What Gifted Education Is and Why It's Needed

6 Truths About Gifted Kids

A New School for 2e Kids in Orange County, CA

Beyond Growth Mindset: Creating Opportunities for Real Struggle

Gifted Ed Students are More than Just Really Smart Kids

The Hidden Costs of Having a Gifted Child

How to Help Gifted Children Survive Middle School




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SENG parent
discussion groups
Joining a SENG Model Parent Discussion Group is a great way to connect with other families and deepen your understanding of your child's needs. New groups often start this time of year, here is contact info:

- Bellevue
  (Starts Jan 20)
- Seattle
- Spokane
  (Starts Jan 20)
- Tacoma

- Washougal
- Woodinville
  (Starting Feb)
- Online Groups

More information about SENG discussion groups


Invite us to speak to your group

The mission of NWGCA is to support parents of gifted children across the state and provide resources, information, and coaching about raising gifted children.  
NWGCA Board Members love to speak to parent groups, and we're even doing more and more professional development for teachers these days. Our talks are FREE, and are available on a variety of topics that can be customized to the needs of your community. Please email us if you would like to schedule a speaker.
Highly Capable Programs Handbook 
The UW Robinson Center for Young Scholars has published an online handbook for school districts that are developing and/or reworking their hicap programs to be in compliance with the new laws. Please feel free to use this in your advocacy, or share with your district administrators as a valuable resource.

Download the Handbook  

WOWs

As a special NWGCA benefit, we are happy to provide you with a discount code NW-15PM6W to register at no cost for Webinars on Wednesdays (WOWs) offered by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) - both future sessions and past recordings are eligible. Please note that this discount code is not published on our website, so please don't lose it.

You can find full information on the dates, times, and sessions at the NAGC website

SENGinars

SENGifted.org also hosts regular webinars. Sorry, we don't have discount codes for these, but they do offer individual member discounts. SENG is a great organization, highly recommended you join and become a member. 
More information 
Calling all Parent Groups!
We are slowly collecting contact information for more and more parent groups across the state, but we know there are still way more out there. If you belong to a group, whether it's associated with a school district or not, would you please drop us a line about where you are located and how best to reach your group? Or, are you hoping to found a group but not sure how to do it? We can help you get started.
Email us