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Congressional Testimony
April 12, 2000, Wednesday
SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY
LENGTH: 880 words
HEADLINE:
TESTIMONY April 12, 2000 ELTON GALLEGLY REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE
APPROPRIATIONS LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION LABOR HHS
APPROPRIATIONS
BODY:
WRITTEN TESTIMONY CONGRESSMAN
ELTON GALLEGLY (CA-23) FISCAL YEAR 2001 LABOR, HHS, AND EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
BILL SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR, HHS, AND EDUCATION Mr. Chairman, I appreciate this
opportunity to express my support on educating gifted and talented students. All
children deserve to be educated to their fullest potential. Unfortunately, the
educational needs of our most talented students are not being met. Gifted and
talented students are not reaching their highest level of learning. This was
demonstrated by the disappointing results of Third International and Math and
Science Study (TIMSS), where our brightest students scored poorly and were not
able to compete with their international counterparts. These students are
destined to become leaders in business, the arts, and the sciences. We must help
them reach their full potential. I am seeking $50 million for the Jacob K.
Javits Students Education Act. The increase over Fiscal Year 2000 is in
anticipation of passage of legislation that I sponsored which would provide
formula-grants-to-states for gifted and talented programs and services. The
House of Representatives approved my legislation as part of the reauthorization
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). H.R. 2,
the Student Results Act, provides formula-grants-to-states for gifted education
when the appropriations level for the Jacob K. Javits program reaches $50
million. The Senate's version of ESEA also includes a formula-
grants-to-states provision for gifted education, greatly increasing the
likelihood of a state grants provision in the final version of the
reauthorization of ESEA. Although the federal definition of
gifted students recognizes that these children have special educational needs,
federal presence in gifted education is minimal: There is no federal mandate to
identify or serve the nation's three million gifted students. The one federal
program for gifted and talented students, the Jacob Javits Talented and Gifted
Students Education Act, provides $6.5 million for national research efforts. A
$50 million appropriation for state programs would allow local communities to
build on the results of the research currently conducted under the Jacob K.
Javits demonstration grants. Ten years of Javits Act research and dissemination
efforts, as reported in various evaluations, have resulted in new information
about the effectiveness of several instructional strategies. I understand there
are many demands within the education budget and that the gifted and talented
program must compete with other priorities. However, I believe a
formula-grant-to-states will ensure that each state can begin to develop or
enhance programs and services for gifted and talented students. That is why I
support an expanded Jacob Javits program through my bill, H.R. 637, which would
provide incentives, through block grants, to states to identify gifted and
talented students from all economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds --
particularly students of limited English proficiency and students with
disabilities. I know you are as committed as I am to ensuring
our nation's youth have all the tools they need for their future. I appreciate
the opportunity to present this request to the Committee. Your favorable
consideration of this request will be greatly appreciated.
LOAD-DATE: April 25, 2000, Tuesday
