TN Dept of Ed Eliminates Dedicated State Gifted Position

​TAG Members,

The Tennessee Department of Education recently eliminated the dedicated position for gifted education. This means that there is no one at the state level to represent the needs of intellectually gifted learners. We need to educate our legislators and state board members and let them know that this is a decision that will negatively impact students in Tennessee. We believe that there should be a position or designation of responsibility dedicated to the needs of gifted learners. Without such dedication, gifted learners and their educators will not have the leadership, advocacy, or supports to allow gifted learners to progress. We already know that very few educators are trained to support gifted learners, and this only weakens the educational opportunities for gifted learners and those who lead them.

We ask that you reach out to your legislator (Contact your legislator link: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/Apps/fmlv3/lookup.aspx) and your State Board of Education representative (Contact State Board of Education member: https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/sbe/about-us/board-members.html#findmymember) and let them know that you oppose this change and that there should be representation in gifted education at the state.