[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORTING GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID M. McINTOSH

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 3, 1999

  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend my colleagues for 
voting to expand gifted and talented programs. On October 21, we passed 
H.R. 2, the Student Results Act, which reauthorized the Jacob K. Javits 
Gifted and Talented Students Education Act.
  When I spoke before the Indiana Association for the Gifted last year 
I stated I was going to make gifted and talented programs one of my 
highest priorities. I want to thank my colleagues who voted for 
proposal and pledged their support for gifted and talented children.
  The Javits program supports national research efforts and awards 
grants to school corporations, state departments of education, 
institutions of higher education, and other public and private agencies 
and organizations to help meet the needs of gifted and talented 
students in elementary and secondary schools.
  Several of my colleagues and I on the Education Committee led the 
effort to expand this program and succeeded in adding a significant 
state component. During the drafting state of the Student Results Act, 
we included provisions from the Gifted and Talented Students Education 
Act, a bill we co-sponsored earlier this year. This important 
legislation provides grants to states to help them implement successful 
research findings and model projects funded by the Javits program over 
the past ten years.
   Mr. Speaker, gifted and talented programs are a proven method of 
helping children to meet their potential, while preventing drop-outs 
and other risk behaviors. Gifted children greatly benefit from being 
exposed to challenging and enriched curricula taught by trained staff 
who understand their special needs.
  In Indiana, we have some very talented educators working with gifted 
and talented children. Indiana is one of only a few states that has a 
two year public residential high school for high-ability students, the 
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities located at Ball 
State University in Muncie Indiana. In addition, Indiana has summer and 
week-end programs for these students.
  In several school districts such as Southwest Allen County located in 
Fort Wayne Indiana we are fortunate to have a comprehensive program for 
gifted students, beginning in kindergarten. This type of K-12 program 
is unique and provides a model for other school districts.
  While there are many excellent programs in Indiana, not all schools 
offer programs or services to meet the educational needs of gifted and 
talented students. The Javits program will provide Hoosiers with 
additional funds to reach out to students who currently do not have 
access to gifted and talented programs.
  I greatly appreciate those who have joined me in opening up 
opportunities for gifted children.

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