Thankfully, providing gifted education is now mandatory in Colorado

Letters to Editor
June 21, 2007

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Despite strong opposition from the Colorado Association of School Boards (including our own Greeley-Evans District 6 school board) and the Colorado Association for School Executives, the passing of House Bill 1244 to make gifted education mandatory is now a fact.

It's a great accomplishment by the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented and its advocates throughout the state.

Many parents, also here in Greeley, have worked tirelessly to help legislators understand that gifted children have different learning needs that should be addressed if they are to be successful in school, but even more importantly also in life.

Ironically, many gifted and talented students do not even know they are gifted and often suffer from low self-esteem and self-doubt. Not all excel in school, and some have learning disabilities that go unnoticed because they still perform reasonably well in class.

I encourage anyone who wants to become more informed about the complexities that giftedness entails to contact me by calling (970) 302-0514 or e-mailing Greagles@gmail.com.

Conny Jensen is president of Greeley EAGLES, a parent support group and affiliate of the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented.