(Notes: many newspaper articles are cached in archives that charge a fee; however they should still be available from your public library. Articles in each section are posted with the most recent at the top)
State rules Ashland’s TAG program out of compliance By Joe Zavala for the Ashland Mail Tribune, Wednesday Mar 22, 2017 at 335 PM Updated Mar 22, 2017 at 335 PM
"The Ashland School District does not meet the state's minimum standards for ensuring its talented and gifted students receive appropriate instruction and must submit a corrective action plan by June 15 or risk losing a portion of its state funding, according to a ruling handed down Friday from the Oregon Department of Education. . . .
To investigate Richards' appeal, the ODE in January dispatched two staff members to Ashland to spend a day in the district observing high school, middle school and elementary classrooms. They discovered a mixed bag of compliance, noting in Friday's ruling that an advanced placement English teacher was able to "differentiate instruction" during a Socratic circle exercise, while another teacher's attempts to address "rate of learning" was mostly unsuccessful. . . . .
The ODE investigators, which included legislative coordinator Emily Nazarov, also used two surveys to determine other shortcomings.
The report concluded that Ashland's corrective action plan must include "specific discussion" of three elements professional development for teachers around "how to effectively use rate and level" in the classroom; improving and ensuring access for all teachers to information about which of their students have been TAG identified and their individual TAG plans; and implementing a consistent opportunity for parents to review their student's TAG plan."
http://mailtribune.com/news/education/ashland-tag-program-out-of-compliance
Dept. of Education Ashland School District not providing adequate education to gifted by Daniela Jusino for KTVL News 10, Monday, March 20th 2017
"ASHLAND, Ore. -After a six-month investigation, the Oregon Department of Education ruled on March 17 that the Ashland School District is out of compliance with state laws in regards to their talented and gifted students.
The state is planning to withhold funding and deem Ashland a non-standard school if the district doesn't present a corrective action plan by June 15 . . ."
Schools Aren't Meeting TAG Requirements by Taelor Rian for KOBI
Ashland, Ore. "Students at the Ashland School District with the talented and gifted designation aren’t receiving the level of instruction they are required as outlined by the state.
The Ashland School District was observed in January after a concerned parent filed an appeal on the implementation of the talented and gifted or TAG program.
Matt Richards says he just wants to see TAG kids be challenged. . . .
"The problem is it just hasn’t really been implemented," Richards says. "It’s easy for some things to maybe fall through the cracks sometimes and so I hope that this just spurs them to say hey this a piece that we need to do a better job on." "
https://kobi5.com/news/ashland-schools-arent-meeting-tag-requirements-49279/
Ashland Parents Push for Change in TAG Program KDRV, Tuesday, March 21st 2017, 525 pm PDT
ASHLAND, Ore. -- The state of Oregon says the Ashland School District needs to make some changes in the Talented and Gifted (TAG) Program.
"The state just finished months of investigating following a parent's appeal to the district.
The parent, Matt Richards, felt his TAG children were not getting the education they needed. After years of talking with administrators, teachers and the district, he filed a complaint.
"The only way to try and get anything to happen was to go through this complaint process," Richards said.
Initially the complaint went to a review board, and the district said it was in compliance with state rules. Richards appealed the district's decision to the state. The state then launched the investigation. After concluding the investigation, the state found the Ashland School District was not properly educating TAG students, in accordance with state rules. The district now has until June 15th to submit a Corrective Action Plan.
"The withholding of funds only happens if the district fails to submit a plan by June 15th, and again, I want to be really clear, I do not anticipate that happening here," Emily Nazarov, with the Oregon Department of Education, said.
Nazarov also said she is confident the state will submit the plan in time."
http://www.kdrv.com/story/34967722/ashland-parents-push-for-change-in-tag-program
Oregon Dept. of Education wants improvements in Ashland School District TAG program by Mike Marut for KTVL Tuesday, March 21st 2017
"Ashland, Ore. - On Friday, the Oregon Department of Education completed a six month evaluation and released its findings the district has a need for professional development on differentiating instruction for individual TAG students, improving teacher access to the list of TAG identified students in their classrooms and consistent opportunity for parents to be involved in developing TAG plans. . . .
Matt Richards, a district parent, submitted a formal complaint about the lack of programming and curriculum four years ago.
"That's really what it's mostly about is making sure when the kids go to school, they are inspired and learning things that are stimulating for them," Richards says.
Richards says he's happy with the report. He noted the district already has a comprehensive plan on their website. He does not necessarily want to see changes to that plan, but the implementation of it. . . . ."
eaverton School District listening session draws one parent
B
Published Thursday, October 20, 2011, 918 PM Updated Thursday, October 20, 2011, 933 PM
By Wendy Owen, The Oregonian
"Michelle McHugh, who has children in sixth and eighth grades, received the undivided attention of Superintendent Jeff Rose for her questions about gifted students.
McHugh said there are few alternatives for high-achieving students in middle school who aren't selected in the option-school lottery or the highly gifted program, Summa. ..."
http://www.oregonlive.com/beaverton/index.ssf/2011/10/beaverton_school_district_list.html
Beaverton School Board meeting standing room only for budget cuts, gifted students and charter schools by Wendy Owen for The Oregonian, Wednesday, April 6, 2011, Updated Thursday, April 7, 2011
...."The district expects to add 150 students to the 350 already in the three Summa programs by expanding the criteria this fall. The 99th percentile on a cognitive test still stands, but the second set of criteria will change to 99th percentile in reading OR math plus 97th percentile in reading or math or a cognitive ability test.
We don’t want to lose the integrity of the program,” said Beaverton Superintendent Jerry Colonna.
Students who qualify under the new criteria will be invited to attend Summa this coming school year"....
http://www.oregonlive.com/beaverton/index.ssf/2011/04/beaverton_school_board_meeting_standing_room_only_for_budget_cuts_gifted_students_and_charter_school.html
Parents ask Beaverton School District to make Summa honors program less restrictive, by Wendy Owen, for The Oregonian, Published Friday, January 07, 2011, 900 AM
"For some parents and students in the Beaverton School District, the difference between scoring in the 99th and the 98th percentile may be only 1 point, but it means the world.That tiny number is enough to keep a gifted student from attending the Summa honors program in middle school. Students must either score in the 99th percentile on both math and reading standardized tests or on a cognitive test to enter the program for the "profoundly gifted."Lately, some parents have been pushing the district to change the criteria and allow more gifted students into Summa, but local and national educators said there is a huge difference between the students who score in the 99th percentile and those who nearly do".
Beaverton will expand Summa program for high-achieving students to Stoller Middle School in the fall By Melissa Navas for The Oregonian March 22, 2010, 458PM
"Beaverton School District's Summa program, which serves high-achieving students, will expand to a third middle school in the fall.
The district will start a program at Stoller Middle School, partly because the bulk of the students enrolled in the program next year come from elementary schools that feed into Stoller, regional administrator Vicki Lukich said......"
Expert panel says gifted students must be challenged by Wendy Owen, for The Oregonian, Friday April 17, 2009, 5:00 PM
"BEAVERTON -- For gifted children to succeed, they must be challenged, according to a panel of experts. ...Gifted children lose their motivation when the work is too easy. Having never been challenged, they will lack the tools to deal with difficult work in the future, said Jean Gubbins, associate director of The National Research on the Gifted and Talented at the University of Connecticut"
http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2009/04/expert_panel_says_gifted_stude.html
Beaverton plans to upgrade Talented and Gifted program by Melissa Navas, for The Oregonian, Wednesday September 24, 2008, 947 AM
"The Beaverton School District has postponed hiring an administrator to run its Talented and Gifted program but will increase teacher training, planning time and program evaluation this year. Despite the hiring delay, officials say the district will still improve its program for high-achieving students....
http://www.oregonlive.com/kiddo/index.ssf/2008/09/beaverton_plans_to_upgrade_tal.html
Beaverton talented students underserved by teachers, survey reports by Melissa Navas, The Oregonian March 06, 2008 0939AM
"While Beaverton has nearly twice the state's rate of talented and gifted students, the district has found its teachers are not provided adequate training or time to assess and instruct high achievers.
To improve services, the district is proposing increasing its TAG budget by 65 percent to $1.2 million next fiscal year to provide more training, hire new staff and launch a three-year plan to evaluate and refine its program.
A January survey of district staff reveals that the needs of struggling students often supersede those of high achieving students, according to results reviewed by the district budget committee Tuesday night." ...
http://blog.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/2008/03/beaverton_talented_students_un.html
"Options in Works for Students (Beaverton's Summa academy)" by David Anderson for the Oregonian
http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/metro_west_news/1077800390227780.xml?oregonian?wn
Identifying the Talented and Gifted: Crook County School District explores new ways to serve students who are in the 97th percentile by Ramona McCallister for the Central Oregonian, November 21, 2012
http://www.centraloregonian.com/archives/story.aspx/15242/identifying-the-talented-and-gifted
Gifted need to be guided, programs funded By Stephen Aloia For The Register-Guard Feb. 14, 2016
"Gifted athletes are identified early in life and enjoy focused attention with year-round travel teams, professional coaches and highly
coordinated training, exercise, nutrition and rest. Personalities, temperaments, talents and skills are enhanced with psychological,
philosophical and emotional workshops. Screening and try-outs are demanding and intense. And athletic performance is valued and
rewarded with media coverage, lettermen’s jackets, booster clubs, awards banquets, cheerleaders, marching bands, packed crowds and
highly publicized college signing days. The results are obvious: the Olympics, collegiate sports, and lifetimes of fitness and exercise."
http://registerguard.com/rg/opinion/34044286-78/gifted-need-to-be-guided-programs-funded.html.csp
Raising the TAG Bar By Anne Bridgman for the Eugene Weekly, May 23, 2013 - 100am
As Eugene School District 4J works to meet a June deadline to comply with a corrective order regarding gifted education issued by the Oregon Department of Education, a second complaint has been filed against the district, according to the parent who filed the complaints and the education department
The corrective action order was issued to 4J in response to the first complaint filed by the parent, who felt that the district was not compliant with state talented and gifted (TAG) requirements. The same parent, Ellen Wischnowski, filed a second complaint this month on behalf of another child after her child’s TAG plan was revised significantly without notifying her. That complaint is being investigated by the state Department of Education’s TAG office, according to the department, which will decide whether to pursue it......
Ten years ago, when Wischnowski enrolled her son in kindergarten, she says, her efforts to get him more challenge were met with insults and derision. When he was TAG identified in third grade, she says, "I wanted him to at least read books at his level." She was told that her son couldn’t bring books from home or the school library because they were distracting.
http://www.eugeneweekly.com/20130523/news-features/raising-tag-bar
Middle school audit buoys efforts to teach high achievers: Hillsboro expert says teacher training is key to success at Neil Armstrong By Nancy Townsley The Forest Grove News-Times, Jun 10, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009
"An expert in the art of teaching “academically talented and intellectually gifted” students has evaluated practices at Neil Armstrong Middle School in Forest Grove and concluded that teachers need additional training to best serve those high achievers."...
http://www.forestgrovenewstimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=124465557385312200
Forest Grove students say they are 'bored' in class by Wendy Owen, for The Oregonian Wednesday April 29, 2009, 423 PM
FOREST GROVE -- High achieving students and their parents stood before the Forest Grove School Board Monday night and asked for a better education.
Students from Neil Armstrong Middle School and Tom McCall Upper Elementary asked for more rigor.
"I'm a person who enjoys being challenged," said Zahara Crain, a sixth-grader at Tom McCall. "If I can be prepared for high school in seventh and eighth grade, I would be a lot happier."
Alexandra Benefiel said she's bored at the middle school. "We already know all this stuff,"
The focus of their concerns was Neil Armstrong Middle School. About two years ago, the district pulled its honors language arts classes and replaced them with honors contracts....
http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2009/04/forest_grove_students_say_they.html
Musser insists honors classes ‘not the answer’ By Nancy Townsley for The Forest Grove News-Times, Apr 29, 2009
Parents urge school board to restore courses for high achievers at Neil Armstrong...
Since honors courses were dropped in 2007, Neil Armstrong pupils have instead been offered “honors contracts,” or opportunities to complete higher-level assignments for credit.
Musser recently introduced the idea of “cluster groups” in mainstream classes, a concept that gives TAG students the chance to challenge each other under guidance from teachers trained to tend to their needs.
http://www.forestgrovenewstimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=124103033135888600
Change becomes a two-way street in the world of special education: Disgruntled parents say that the Lake Oswego School District has misplaced their third-grade son in a special education classroom. By Rebecca Mayer for The Lake Oswego Review, Nov 27, 2008 (18 Reader comments)
Bob Keller and Cynthia Mohiuddin hope that litigation will help their third-grade son, who was placed in a special education classroom, attend a regular class in his neighborhood school, Palisades Elementary, shown behind the couple.....Keller and Mohiuddin’s son attended Palisades Elementary School until October of 2007 when he was in second grade. In the middle of his first grade year the LOSD recognized a "communication disorder" making him eligible for special education services. He was required to attend 30 minutes of speech per week. At that time, he was also identified as a Talented and Gifted student for his advanced math abilities.
http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=122773236443265700
District aims to beef up talented, gifted offerings, by Wendy Owen, The Oregonian, Thursday, September 21, 2006 :
"The Lake Oswego School District is hoping to improve the consistency and depth of its gifted education for junior high students with a new program called TAG Challenge....
As the district pilots TAG Challenge, it also will be studying its overall program for talented and gifted students, a process accelerated by parents concerned about the quality of gifted education in the district "
See also....
an article by Maya Blackmun in the Oregonian, about an innovative new PTA for TAG parents, Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Talented, gifted student programs lack funds: Medford School Board meets to discuss calls for more advanced coursework; 'It's the right thing to do' By Paris Achen for the Mail Tribune, May 04, 2010 2:00 AM
"When Shari Wyne's son was identified as an intellectually gifted first-grader two years ago through a standardized test at Jefferson Elementary School, she expected him to receive more challenging schoolwork or special activities to stimulate his intellect.
'I was told point-blank: "We do not offer a talented and gifted program,'" Wyne said."
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100504/NEWS/5040313
Parents say gifted program falls short by Courtney Vaughan for the Portland Tribune,Thursday, August 29, 2019"Oregon Department of Education will review parent group's complaint about access to TAG curriculum at Portland Public Schools. A complaint filed with Portland Public Schools over its past noncompliance with state rules for the talented and gifted (TAG) curriculum has been escalated to the Oregon Department of Education."
https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/437152-346937-parents-say-gifted-program-falls-short
Portland Parents Push For Schools To Improve Talented And Gifted Programs, by Elizabeth Miller For OPB Aug. 14, 2019 2:37 p.m. | Updated: Aug. 14, 2019 4:23 p.m.
"Following up on a complaint filed in April, parents and students asked the Portland Public Schools board of directors Wednesday to increase services for students identified as talented and gifted.
The district has reported being out-of-compliance when it comes to meeting the needs of 7,752 students who qualify for these services.
District leaders have a three-year plan to improve, using professional development, expanded curriculum and better identification for underserved students. But the families want to see the district put money and resources into helping talented and gifted students now.
In a unanimous vote, the board decided not to change the existing plan or its timing. ..."
https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-portland-public-schools-education-gifted-talented-programs/
https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2019/08/portland-public-schools-wants-to-drastically-boost-black-latino-and-migrant-student-achievement-by-2022.html
Portland Public Schools wants to drastically boost black, Latino and migrant student achievement by 2022 by Eder Capuzano for the Oregonian/Oregonlive, Posted Aug 15, 6:05 AM
Portland Public Schools will try to more than double reading and math proficiency rates for three traditionally underserved student populations by 2022, a move Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero said is unprecedented.
But there's only so much money and so many resources to go around.
That's the message Portland schools officials and board members sent to about a dozen parents and students demanding district leaders fast-track plans to meet state guidelines for talented and gifted programs. . . .. . . a group of 27 parents filed an official complaint alleging district officials knowingly fall short of state standards for talented and gifted programming year after year. The school board on Tuesday was considering the district’s response, which called for a five-year plan to achieve compliance.
Colleen McCormick, a district parent, said there were small steps the district could take immediately to mitigate the concerns of students recognized as talented and gifted.
She suggested schools could group students of similar talent levels together and that school officials could be clearer in their communication about the program.
District officials said they’ll be in compliance with state TAG standards by the 2024-25 school year. And Guerrero proffered that there’s really only one way to reach that goal sooner.
'Additional resourcing would allow us to accelerate the proposed five-year plan,' he said."
"Portland Parents Want Better Access To Talented and Gifted Programming" by Elizabeth Miller for OPB June 3, 2019 2:16 p.m.
. . . "The parents included in the complaint represent students at 20 PPS schools all over the city and at every level – elementary, middle and high school.Responding to the group last week, PPS confirmed some of the parent allegations. There are inconsistencies among schools when it comes to programming for specialized students, said PPS Senior Director of College & Career Readiness Aurora Terry in the response.Next year, PPS will self-report for its fourth consecutive year that its “out of compliance” with state requirements to provide programs for “talented and gifted” students. It is one of eight districts that has self-reported noncompliance. . . ."
"A Better Solution for ACCESS," (letter) by Steve Buel for the Oregonian, June 6, 2018
"Parents Accuse Portland Public Schools of Having Have “Squandered” Community Trust: PPS Will Split Students in the ACCESS Academy Program Between Two Schools. Parents—and Schools—Aren’t Pleased," by Kelly Kenoyer for the Portland Mercury, June 6, 2018
"Last week, the Portland Public Schools Board voted to divide a program for gifted children, splitting students between two existing schools in historically underserved neighborhoods. In the process, they outraged both community members and the schools."
"ACCESS Academy will be co-located this fall" by Jessie Darland for the Portland Tribune, Monday, June 04, 2018
"Not one seat was empty at the school board meeting last Wednesday night, as the Portland school board voted to find a new short-term home for ACCESS Academy, Portland's alternative school for talented and gifted students.
By a 6-1 vote, the Portland Public Schools board agreed to split up ACCESS, with the first through fifth grade moving into Vestal Elementary, and sixth through eighth grade moving in with Lane Middle School. "
http://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/397428-291710-access-academy-will-be-co-located-this-fall
Editorial: "District, parents must make Access move a workable solution," the Oregonian, Sunday, June 2, 2018
"If you could take all the secrecy, shortsightedness and organizational dysfunction of Portland Public Schools and package it into one bundle of mismanagement, you'd have the story of the district's attempts to relocate Access Academy. For most of the school year, the district has been looking for a new school to house the specialized accelerated learning program, as its current host, Rose City Park, is reverting back to a K-5 elementary school drawing students from a larger neighborhood. But the search turned into one misstep after another, a memory lane of sorts of all the deep-rooted defects of PPS culture. As The Oregonian/OregonLive's Bethany Barnes reported, former interim superintendent Bob McKean dillydallied in planning for the move, the school board rashly gave the one building planned for Access to a charter school, new superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero hatched a series of ill-conceived and ill-communicated alternatives for where to place the 330-plus highly gifted students, while rumors sent one school community after another into a lather. Ultimately, the school board landed on a proposal that splits up Access, burdens two high-poverty schools with sharing their space and has left most everyone - some board members included - deflated. Certainly, the solution is not a good one. ..."
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2018/06/district_parents_must_make_acc.html
"PPS Approves Splitting, Moving ACCESS Academy Despite Objections" by Rob Manning for OPB, May 31, 2018 7:45 a.m. | Updated: May 31, 2018 11:43 a.m.
"The Portland Public Schools board voted 6-to-1 Wednesday evening to split up and move a program for talented and gifted students. District administration has struggled for months to relocate the ACCESS Academy, having tried and abandoned three previous plans."
https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-oregon-public-schools-access-academy-move/
"PPS School Board Decision Leaves Parents Upset," by Kelly Kenoyer for the Portland Mercury blog, May 31, 2018 at 12:26 pm
"Portland Public Schools board members have made the contentious decision to divide and relocate a program for gifted students between two already-occupied PPS schools. Few parents are pleased. The decision was made in a 6-1 vote at last night’s PPS board meeting, a vote that elicited attendees to shout 'Shame on you!'”
"Portland school board, expressing regrets, selects two sites to split Access gifted program," by Bethany Barnes for the Oregonian/Oregonlive, Wednesday, May 30, 2018, Updated 824 PM; Posted 758 PM
"Portland school board members agreed it is not ideal to relocate a program for gifted students to two high-poverty schools but made the choice to do so anyway Wednesday, voting to put Access Academy at Vestal Elementary and Lane Middle School for at least two years."
www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2018/05/portland_school_board_expressi.html
"Imminent Decision On Portland's ACCESS Academy Faces Federal Lawsuit," by Rob Manning for OPB, May 30, 2018 11:08 a.m. | Updated: May 30, 2018 4:06 p.m.
"Portland parents have filed a federal lawsuit against Oregon’s largest school district over its school for highly gifted students. Portland Public Schools has scheduled a vote on the ACCESS Academy’s future location for Wednesday."
https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-access-academy-talented-gifted-students-federal-lawsuit/
"Once again, Portland Public School botches community outreach over school relocation," by Bethany Barnes for the Oregonian/Oregonlive, Wednesday, May 30?, 2018, 12:20 PM.
"Portland Public Schools has once again angered parents over its plan to relocate a gifted school in a new building by communicating in a way that has people confused and suspicious. On Tuesday, the district sent out a notice that the newest plan would be made public at a Wednesday meeting and took the unusual step of stressing that a vote wouldn't happen at the meeting and the public would not be allowed to comment.What the district didn't make clear to the public: Immediately after that meeting, the board would hold a second meeting to vote on the controversial plan at which a few member of the public would be allowed to comment."
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2018/05/once_again_portland_public_sch.html
"As lawsuit looms, PPS votes to divide ACCESS between Lane, Vestal," By FOX 12 Staff
Posted May 30, 2018 535 PM PDT, Updated May 30, 2018 945 PM PDT
"Portland Public School officials have voted to divide the ACCESS Academy between two locations. ACCESS is a learning program for highly gifted children, but it has never had a permeant home. District officials Wednesday considered where the program might move for the fall and decided to divide the students between Vestal Elementary School and Lane Middle School. "
http://www.kptv.com/story/38312310/as-lawsuit-looms-pps-votes-to-divide-access-between-lane-vestal
"PPS students need Access:" Letter to the editor by Sara Kennedy Adams for the Oregonian, May 26, 2018
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2018/05/pps_students_need_access_lette.html
"My View: ACCESS students left with no place to go" by Michael McGarry for the Portland Tribune, Tuesday, April 17, 2018
"Revoking our promised building - 10 minutes before spring break - effectively prevented any of these 350 children and families from being able to apply to any alternative school that would serve these children at their rate and level. "
"Reprieve For Portland's Pioneer School Leaves Questions For Gifted Program." by Rob Manning for OPB, March 26, 2018
"Before Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero’s quickly-abandoned plan to break up ACCESS, the alternative school was slated to take over the Humboldt school building in North Portland from the Kairos PDX charter school. But after pleas from local leaders, including Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, PPS allowed Kairos to remain.Counting the abandoned ACCESS break-up, the rescinded relocation to Humboldt and the suspended Pioneer move, the district is now working on its fourth plan for ACCESS since last fall. And if the district wants to stick with its broader plan of restructuring its K-8 programs in Northeast Portland by this coming fall, it doesn’t have a lot of time to find a workable solution for ACCESS."
https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-public-schools-oregon-pioneer-access/
District puts Pioneer School move on hold until next year, Portland Tribune, Friday, March 23, 2018
"UPDATE: Decision came after PPS confirmed that construction and relocation cost estimates to move the program to Rice and Applegate schools, raised too many questions about the feasibility of completing the work by the fall. One day after parents of Pioneer Special School students filed a federal lawsuit to block the program's planned move, Portland Public Schools officials put the move on hold until next school year"
"Portland Public Schools: Separate, unequal and begging for change" (Guest opinion) by Natalie Hval for the Oregonian
Updated Posted
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2018/02/portland_public_schools_separa.html
"Pioneer School fights to keep its home" by Shasta Kearns Moore for the Portland Tribune, Thursday Feb. 8, 2018
"The large site south of Mount Tabor, called the Holladay-Youngson campus, will be the new permanent home of ACCESS Academy. To make way, Pioneer will move to two smaller North Portland school sites: Applegate, currently home to a Head Start program; and Rice, which is now used for teacher office space and a small alternative high school program. The relocation is loudly opposed by Pioneer staff and parents, and causing administrators to defend a plan whose many important details are far from established. "
"Portland superintendent's ousting of special ed program echoes approach he apologized for" by Bethany Barnes for the Oregonian
Updated Posted
In his third week on the job, Portland's new superintendent apologized for rolling out a plan to disband a program for gifted children without talking to families and teachers. Then, six weeks later, he announced a plan to disband a special education program, also without talking to families or teachers.
"Portland superintendent reveals new site for Access gifted program; high-needs special ed school would have to disband" by Bethany Barnes for the Oregonian, Updated Posted
"To make room for its highly gifted program, Portland Public Schools plans to break up a program designed to serve its highest-needs special education students, Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero announced Tuesday. His plan is to oust the Pioneer special education program, with about 123 students, so the 350-student Access Academy program for highly gifted students can use its buildings, located on Southeast Division Street at 71st Avenue. Access is a program for students whose extensive educational needs could not be met at their neighborhood school; so is Pioneer."
"PPS to make effort to keep ACCESS Academy students in one building" by KATU Staff
Tuesday, October 24th 2017
"PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Public Schools board voted Tuesday night to keep ACCESS Academy open until a new location can be found.The school for the gifted that’s located within Beverly Cleary Elementary in Northeast Portland was slated for closure because of overcrowding. The district’s original plan was to send students from ACCESS to eight different schools around the city."
http://katu.com/news/local/pps-to-make-effort-to-keep-access-academy-students-in-one-building
"Fighting for ACCESS: A Kid’s Perspective" by Soren Cowell-Shaw for Pdx Parent, Oct. 22, 2017
"Now for the next step. We still don’t have a building, nor any firm plans to find one. I’m worried that the Superintendent just said what we wanted to hear and that the district still might go back on his word, that they might claim that there aren’t any good buildings, or not try very hard to find one. I want to tell PPS to work hard to find a solution, and not to give up because there’s nothing obvious. Change a building to fit the school, and not the other way round. Don’t displace hundreds of kids for whom this school has changed their lives."
https://www.pdxparent.com/fight-for-access/
Portland's highly gifted would be spread across eight schools under new proposal by Bethany Barnes for the Oregonian
"Portland Public Schools wants to split its program for highly gifted students, which is currently housed in a single school, into eight separate campuses, Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero announced Tuesday. Access Academy needs to move from its current location so a neighborhood elementary can reopen there to relieve crowding."
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2017/10/portlands_highly_gifted_would.html
[see also video clips of the students at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-RXDL1rhpw]
Parents Worry Portland Public Schools Will Disperse Kids in Gifted Program by Haley Rush for KPTV/KPDX, October 12, 2017
"....Parents said Access Academy, which is a program for gifted students in the district, is a place where their kids can learn at an advances rate and feel safe. They also said many of the students had a hard time fitting in their neighborhood schools...."
PPS Superintendent Proposes Closing ACCESS Academy by Rob Manning for OPB Oct. 11, 2017 6:15 a.m. Updated: Oct. 11, 2017 9:57 a.m. | Portland
"...Just hours after the memo was released Tuesday, ACCESS parents were decrying the proposal as rushed, unworkable and short of details and funding. The school board is scheduled to vote as soon as Oct. 24 on sweeping changes to North and Northeast Portland schools, including the future of the ACCESS Academy.
“[L]ess than 2 weeks until the district is supposed to vote on a plan that includes a new home for ACCESS’ 350 kids, we were dismayed to have our entire school receive an email from the Superintendent about a plan that dissolves ACCESS and implements a completely new ‘regional service model’ that splits our school and children into 8 different PPS schools by next year,” ACCESS PTA president Jennifer Ellis wrote late Tuesday night.... "
http://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-public-schools-access-academy-gifted-students/
Access Academy Parents Push Portland Public Schools For 'Home' by Rob Manning for OPB | Oct. 7, 2017 7:54 a.m. | Updated: Oct. 7, 2017 12:21 p.m. | Portland
"...The proposal presented again Thursday night would move the Access Academy alternative program from its current Northeast Portland home to the Humboldt building, where Kairos is. If Kairos were to stay put, it’s not clear where Access would go. Portland’s complicated set of changes across much of North and Northeast Portland call for creating a neighborhood elementary school at the Rose City Park building, where Access is now..."
For many, Portland's Access Academy is the only option: Guest opinion by Louise McHarris for the Oregonian
"...When my daughter started public kindergarten in a different district, her teachers took us aside after six weeks and advised us to move her out of their school, as they felt unable to provide her with an education at her level. We changed schools and the second school's answer to her advanced reading was to send her to sit in the hall to read by herself...."
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/10/for_many_portlands_access_acad.html
Pitting school against school not the answer Editorial
Updated on October 1, 2017 at 703 AM Posted on October 1, 2017 at 700 AM
By The Oregonian Editorial Board
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/10/pitting_school_against_school.html
"Mayor Urges Portland Schools To Let Charter School Stay Put," by Rob Manning for KUOW Sept. 21, 2017
"Roughly two-thirds of Kairos students are African-American and the Humboldt building is in a historically black Portland neighborhood.
The district has proposed moving in ACCESS Academy — a program for students designated as “talented and gifted.” Most of those students are white. It’s part of a complicated set of changes to relieve overcrowding and repurpose two buildings as middle schools.
Wheeler is urging PPS board members not to approve the move. In a letter, he said “this proposal conflicts with your stated goals around both equity and excellence.” That follows similar concerns voiced this week by Speaker of the Oregon House Tina Kotek, D-Portland.
http://kuow.org/post/mayor-urges-portland-schools-let-charter-school-stay-put
"Leaders urge PPS to keep KairosPDX in current home." by Beth Slovic for the Portland Tribune, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017
"Mayor Ted Wheeler and House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, are urging Portland Public Schools to back off its proposal to move KairosPDX charter school from its home at the former Humboldt Elementary School in North Portland. PPS is proposing to move Kairos, which serves mostly African-American students in kindergarten through fourth grade, to make room for ACCESS Academy, an alternative school whose student are highly gifted and 70 percent white. "I am concerned that the needs of the students enrolled at the ACCESS Academy are being prioritized in a way that unnecessarily undermines the educational opportunity of predominately low-income students and students of color who are enrolled at KairosPDX," Kotek wrote to school-board members on Monday. "Portland Public Schools has made a commitment to equity and the proposal before you flies in the face of that commitment. To provide growth opportunity to a program that currently serves 70% white students at the expense of a school that is successfully closing the opportunity gap for students of color in Portland does not make sense."
Portland Public Schools Takes Another Run At Converting To Middle ... by Rob Manning for OPB, Sep 8, 2017 -
"Oregon's largest school district rolled out plans Thursday to redraw school ... ACCESS Academy: The program for the top fraction of Portland... "
www.opb.org/news/article/portland-public-schools-middle-boundary-2017/
Portland schools hit with civil rights complaint for denying disabled students entry to gifted school by Bethany Barnes for the Oregonian, January 18, 2017
"Three Portland families have filed a federal civil rights complaint against Portland Public Schools alleging the district's gifted program lacks transparency and discriminates against students with disabilities.
The heart of their complaint is that students who otherwise qualified for the district's magnet school for highly gifted students were turned away because they had disabilities. Spots at Access Academy are coveted by parents who feel their neighborhood schools cannot provide talented and gifted services, which are required by Oregon law..."http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2017/01/portland_schools_hit_with_civi.html
ACCESS Academy seeks new home in space-starved district for the Portland Tribune, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016.
" some are wondering if ACCESS should be a stand-alone school at all. The program could look more like Summa, Beaverton’s middle-grade program for talented-and-gifted-identified (TAG) students, which is split over five campuses."
Complaint: Portland district discriminated against gifted students with disabilities.
on August 20, 2016 at 7:00 AM, updated August 22, 2016 at 1:30 PM"In a complaint filed with Portland Public Schools, three families say district officials illegally relied on their children's disabilities when denying them entry to a gifted program they were otherwise qualified to attend.
Based on test results, the families believed their children clearly met the criteria for the district's Access Academy, an alternative program for high-aptitude students.
But review documents obtained by two of the families showed district officials had repeatedly annotated application forms with handwritten notes that linked admission with the students' disabilities. . . ." http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/08/complaint_portland_district_di.html
TAG parents speak out against district by Shasta Kearns Moore for the Portland Tribune, Tuesday, January 26, 2016
A district parent advisory group is mounting a campaign to convince Portland Public Schools that it is out of compliance with state laws by providing, it says, little to no Talented and Gifted services. ... The volley reignites a battle that led the Oregon Department of Education to find in 2011 that PPS was in violation of TAG requirements and to put them on a corrective action plan. Nicole Iroz-Elardo is assistant chair of the Talented and Gifted Advisory Committee (TAGAC). Iroz-Elardo argues that PPS is neither meeting the letter of the law nor the intent. ... The TAGAC’s letter to Superintendent Carole Smith and the school board lists seven ways in which they feel the district is out of compliance. The complaints include lack of transparency, lack of parental involvement, out-of-date TAG plans, inconsistency, lack of equity, and failure to notify parents of the complaint procedure.
https://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/290306-167379-tag-parents-speak-out-against-district
How Portland Public Schools fails advanced math students (OPINION) Guest Columnist By Terese Bushnell for the Oregonian, February 16, 2016 at 226 PM, updated February 16, 2016 at 243 PM
"... Student complaints of boredom and requests to move on to higher math regularly go unanswered; the rare exception is the student with a savvy and persistent advocate in their corner. Even then, far more often than not, math-hungry kids begging for challenges are denied that opportunity. Those without a full-time advocate will likely not have their abilities recognized — never mind get the chance to move to an appropriate instructional level. The irony is that PPS fiercely defends this practice in the name of equity.
Lake Oswego, on the other hand, uses a walk-to-math model districtwide. ..."
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/02/how_portland_public_schools_fa.html
Portland schools should group students by ability Guest opinion By Scholle McFarland for the Oregonian December 3, 2014
"Public schools, at their best, can provide opportunities for students to excel regardless of socioeconomic, racial or ethnic background. As a student at Nashville, Tennessee's first academic magnet high school, I saw that up close. My classmates — some the first in their families to attend college — have gone on to make significant contributions in medicine, law, business and the arts.
So, why in all the committee and community debates about how we can improve equity, program access and educational achievement for all of Portland's students is no one talking about talented and gifted (TAG) services? ....."
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/12/portland_schools_should_group.html
Program for gifted gets new home, room to grow by Jennifer Anderson for the Portland Tribune, Thursday, June 6, 2013
"ACCESS enrollment a turning point for many PPS students
One of Portland Public Schools’ most popular programs can finally open up its doors — just a crack — to meet demand."
http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/154033-program-for-gifted-gets-new-home-room-to-grow
Schools Failing Gifted Kids, Parents say by Todd Murphy for the Portland TribuneSchool for gifted students hard to ACCESS by Jennifer Anderson for the Portland Tribune, Thursday, March 21, 11:00
"....Despite the facility squeeze, ACCESS families feel better about their TAG child’s education than families at other schools, according to results of the parent survey of TAG services, conducted last summer.
The results, which were made available this month, show that ACCESS parents’ responses were uniformly positive on all 14 questions.
No other school’s responses were positive for more than eight questions.
Most of the survey data is glaring. For example:
Eighty-three percent of PPS parents feel that the TAG services at their child’s school had no impact on improving their child’s academic performance. ...."
http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/134459-school-for-gifted-students-hard-to-access
Changes will improve TAG education (editorial) by Mark Feldman for the Portland Tribune, Thursday, March 21, 2013
"...The only way out of this crisis is to recognize that TAG students have the same rights as special education and all other students anywhere on the spectrum to access an appropriate educational environment. Using $1,100 more per school for more enrichment activities would not even come close to making this happen...."
http://portlandtribune.com/pt/10-opinion/134468-changes-will-improve-tag-education
ACCESS Academy to move to Rose City Park building by
on April 12, 2013 at 10:58 AM, updated April 12, 2013 at 1:55 PM
"Access Academy, the alternative program for gifted students currently housed at Sabin School, will move to Northeast Portland's Rose City Park building for at least two years, according to district officials. "
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/04/access_academy_to_move_to_rose.html
Demand High, Space Small At Program For Gifted Portland Students by Rob Manning for OPB | March 14, 2013 624 a.m. | Updated March 14, 2013 354 p.m. | Portland, Oregon
"Over the next few weeks, parents around Oregon will make choices about where they want their kids to attend school next year. But limited space indesirable programs means many students won’t get into the programs they prefer. Some schools are especially tough. One of them is the ACCESS Academy – a program for Portland's top Talented and Gifted students. Growth pressure is forcing the program to move...."
TAG failures squander students' potential by Margaret DeLacy for the Portland Tribune, Thursday, March 7, 2013
"The Oregon Talented and Gifted mandate passed 26 years ago, long enough for two generations of students to go all the way through school. Its promise has never been fulfilled, harming both the students and our state. "
http://portlandtribune.com/pt/10-opinion/129483-tag-failures-squander-students-potential
"TAG tries to find its way out of crisis" by Jennifer Anderson for the Portland Tribune, Thursday, February 21, 2012
"State funds for TAG have been on the decline for years, and there are no federal funds available since it is a state-defined and state-mandated program. Many parents who’ve been fighting for years to see that their TAG students’ needs are tended to see that as a crying shame."
http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/128647-tag-tries-to-find-a-way-out-of-crisis
Gifted students want a home of their own: Access Academy kids present ideas to solve space problem By Jennifer Anderson
The Portland Tribune, Feb 11, 2010, Updated Feb 13, 2010
"They might be the smartest kids in the district, but when it comes to classroom space, the students at Portland Public Schools’ Access Academy don’t get any special privileges.The program for highly gifted students is overcrowded – which is also a problem at a number of other district schools where students must squeeze into ill-fitting spaces after enrollment bursts, or as a result of the district’s K-8 reconfiguration two to three years ago.
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story_2nd.php?story_id=126584155246398500
Portland's TAG Program Not Up To State Standards by Bilal Qureshi for Oregon Public Broadcasting, Portland, OR March 7, 2008 917 a.m.
"Parents who challenged the Talented and Gifted programs in Portland Schools now have an answer. The Oregon Department of Education has decided that the district’s TAG programs do not meet state standards.....
http://news.opb.org/article/portlands-tag-program-now-state-standards/
"State Begins Investigation Of Portland Schools' Gifted Program" by Rob Manning for Oregon Public Broadcasting, May 4, 2007
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1070284
"Schools fall down on TAG service delivery" by Lisa Lednicer for the Portland Oregonian, November 29, 2007http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1196306718125040.xml&coll=7
Review faults program for talented students: Access at Sabin falls short in instructional hours, other areas By Jennifer Anderson, The Portland Tribune, Apr 17, 2007
"Portland Public Schools’ Access program — the district’s only separate program for talented and gifted children — is out of compliance with state standards on five counts, a recent report found.....
The scrutiny of the Access program is happening on a parallel track to a broader review under way of the TAG offerings district wide....The purpose is to find out whether the TAG program is in compliance with Oregon Administrative Rules that govern its operation."
http://www.portlandtribune.com/ news/story. php?story_ id=1176763905996 62700
"Portland schools' gifted program gets poor grades: The district is working on solutions for Access after parents complain" by Paige Parker, The Oregonian Thursday, May 31, 2007
http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf/base/portland_news/1180578390192890.xml&coll=7
"Parents ask if gifted kids get all they need: TAG program varies from school to school within the district" By Jennifer Anderson The Portland Tribune Oct 30, 2006
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=116224744575229100
"Questions Of Bias Surround ODE-Charter School Squabble" By Rob Manning for Oregon Public Broadcasting, September 9, 2006:
"The Oregon Department of Education recently drew the ire of charter school supporters when it cracked down on admissions policies at Oregon's fastest-growing charter school. But ODE's fast action also got the attention of other school advocates, who have criticized the state for years for lax enforcement of other violations."
http://publicbroadcasting.net/opb/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=970579§ionID=1
"Schools stay under the ‘gifted’ gun" by Todd Murphy for the Portland Tribune Tue, May 17, 2005
"A Multnomah County Circuit judge has sided with a group of Portland parents and told the Oregon Department of Education it must reconsider its ruling that the Portland school district was providing appropriate educational services to the district’s “talented and gifted” children......."
http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=29909
Re-evaluation of TAG programs ordered by Besty Hammond for the Portland Oregonian
A judge tells Oregon to determine whether schools are doing enough for talented-and-gifted students
Court Hands TAG Parents Victory By Rob Manning for Oregon Public Broadcasting
PORTLAND, OR 2005-05-13 (OPB Radio) - A group of Portland-area parents has been battling education officials for seven years over the identification and instruction of Talented and Gifted students. Yesterday afternoon, they got a measure of satisfaction. Immediately after hearing oral arguments, a Multnomah County Circuit Judge
ruled that the Department of Education could not defend the legality of Portland's procedures.......
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=771899
Parents Contest State Decision on TAG Program By Rob Manning for OPB
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=670460
Oregon State Department of Education issues Final Findings releasing Portland Public Schools from the TAG complaint; parents appeal
"Seven years have passed, and Margaret DeLacy is still waiting.
In 1997, a group of Portland parents led by DeLacy filed a complaint with the Oregon Department of Education. Their complaint charged that the Portland school district wasn't giving their kids the schooling that state law mandated for "talented and gifted" children.
Seven years later -- DeLacy's talented and gifted 10th-grader of back then now is nearing college graduation -- DeLacy and the other parents still are waiting for the state's investigation to be completed. And they're waiting, the parents say, for sanctions against the Portland school district, or forced changes in what one parent calls the "pathetic" way the district educates most intellectually gifted kids.
For the parents, the issue is not about smart kids getting special treatment. It is about the Portland schools complying with state law, they said. And, the parents said, it is about not putting children in educational situations that can cause them to become depressed, to think they're mentally ill, or to get bored and drop out of school."http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=23201
See also: Oregon State Department of Education issues Amended Order concerning TAG complaint.
Fewer TAG students exceed standards: District notes advanced students need challenge
By Mackenzie Ryan for the Statesman Journal, October 15, 2008
"Although more students overall achieved state standards in the Salem-Keizer School District last year, fewer talented and gifted students are exceeding standards.
"This is something we really need to pay attention to," Deputy Superintendent Glenn Gelbrich said. "Our talented and gifted students, we really want more of them to be challenged at a higher level....."
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081015/NEWS/810150476/1001
State's schools chief approves TAG upgrades By Tracy Loew for the Statesman Journal May 30, 2008
Salem — State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo has approved the Salem-Keizer School District's plan to improve its services to Talented and Gifted students......
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/NEWS/805300350/1001
District removed from TAG lawsuit: Salem-Keizer group may appeal judge's decision by Tracy Loew for the Statesman Journal, May 15, 2008
The Salem-Keizer School District no longer is part of a lawsuit brought against it and the state by parents upset about services provided to gifted students....
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/20080515/NEWS/805150343/1001
District offers plan to fix gifted-student program: State must approve S-K's proposal; funding is at stake By Tracy Loew for the Statesman Journal May 13, 2008
"Salem-Keizer School District has completed a plan to improve services to Talented and Gifted students.
In February, after an 11-month investigation, the state cited the district for two violations of state TAG laws in its middle- and high-school programs. State officials gave the district until Monday to outline solutions.
District officials said they think the plan, submitted to the state Friday, addresses all of the problems found in the investigation....."
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/NEWS/805130332/1001
School district long has failed TAG students: Lawsuit verdict shows what many parents have argued unsigned editorial in the Salem Statesman-Journal, February 17, 2008
"For years, the Salem-Keizer School District has told its most creative, questioning students, in effect Help yourselves to extra work if you're bored. Our hands are too full with struggling students to give you much time.
That has driven many parents nuts. They've reasoned, rightly, that talented and gifted kids deserve teachers' attention just as much as any other group...."
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/OPINION/802170318/1048
Leadership lacking from ODE and Castillo commentary by Bill Church for the Salem Statesman-Journal, February 17, 2008
"State Sen. Peter Courtney recently did a Larry, Curly and Mo on the Oregon Department of Human Services brass at a hearing about the state hospital and its, ahem, "problems."
Perhaps the Senate president should convene a hearing with Susan Castillo, the state superintendent of public instruction. If anyone needs a verbal poke, it's the head of the Oregon Department of Education.
Two ODE-related stories last week earned plus-size headlines on the front page. Neither story is a resume-builder for ODE's titular leader, whose name always seems to pop up whenever politicos talk about who will run for governor in 2010...."
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/COLUMN0701/802170323/1064
Talented and Gifted students program is violating law, state says
Salem-Keizer's TAG curriculum is cited for two infractions by
TRACY LOEW for the Statesman Journal, Wednesday, February 13, 2008
"The Salem-Keizer School District is not complying with state laws regarding the education of Talented and Gifted students, an 11-month state investigation concludes.
The investigation report, released by the school district late Tuesday, cites the district for two violations of the law in its middle and high school programs:
# Not having in place any system for assessing TAG students' accelerated rates or levels of learning, and not providing appropriate instruction at an accelerated rate or level of learning for TAG students.
# Not providing an opportunity for parents to provide input and discuss programs and services to be received by their children.
The district must submit a plan within 90 days detailing how it will correct the violations. It will have until the 2008-09 school year to implement the changes....
The report comes a week after frustrated parents filed a lawsuit to force the investigation's completion. It took nine months longer than allowed under state statutes....
TAG report delay leads parents to file lawsuit by TRACY LOEW for the Statesman Journal
Thursday, February 7, 2008
"Gifted-students program investigation by the state is nine months past deadline
Salem-Keizer parents frustrated by repeated delays in a state investigation into the district's Talented and Gifted program are suing to force its completion.
The lawsuit, filed this week in Marion County Circuit Court, claims that the Oregon Department of Education has failed to act in good faith.
It asks the court to order the state to complete the investigation, which has taken nine months longer than allowed under state statute....."
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080207/ITK/802070343/1016
Parents upset about pace of investigation: They have asked state to look into education for talented, gifted kids by Tracy Loew, for the Statesman Journal, December 7, 2007
"A group of parents advocating for talented and gifted students say they're frustrated that the state has taken nine months to investigate their complaints about the Salem-Keizer School District's programs. That's six months longer than allowed by state statute.
But state education officials say their hands are tied by insufficient funding.
The Salem-Keizer Student/Parent Advocacy Group filed 33 complaints about the district's TAG services with the state in March 2007....."
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071207/ITK/712070339
Salem-Keizer Parents Lament Lack of Gifted Programs by Tracy Loew, for the Statesman Journal, November 7, 2007http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711080343
State to address complaints about TAG: Parents say S-K curriculum has shortcomings by Tracy Loew, for the Statesman Journal, November 3, 2007
"State officials say the Salem-Keizer School District may not be complying with state laws requiring adequate education services for Talented and Gifted students.
The Oregon Department of Education launched an investigation into the district's middle school and high school TAG programs last spring, in response to parent complaints......"
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711030322
State presses Sisters schools on TAG by Tia Duerrmeyer, the Sisters Nugget, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2007
"The Sisters School District has been ordered by the state to further improve its programs for its Talented and Gifted (TAG) students.
Sisters has been found "conditionally standard" regarding programs and services it provides to TAG students. That means Sisters' TAG program is out of compliance with state standards.
As a result the state superintendent of public instruction Susan Castillo has ordered $5,000 be withheld monthly from operating funds the district receives. The funds will be withheld until the district corrects its deficiencies......."
St. Helen's
State says TAG is lacking in St. Helens School District, By Wendy Owen, The Oregonian
December 09, 2009, 6:03PM
"It's not often that a school district gets dinged for violating the state TAG mandate, but that's what happened to the St. Helens School District in November.
The Oregon Department of Education found the district out of compliance in its effort to identify students for TAG programs and to provide TAG programs and services. The school district has less than 90 days to develop a plan to fix the problems. If the state approves the plan, the district has another year to implement it, according to a letter from the Oregon Department of Education to St. Helens Superintendent Patricia Adams......"http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2009/12/state_says_tag_is_lacking_in_s.html
State to St. Helens: Step up your TAG program: Oregon Department of Education wants to see a better plan By Erica Ryberg The South County Spotlight, Dec 9, 2009
"Last month, ODE ...notified the district that its policies were out of compliance in that the district didn’t make provisions for the students to receive an ‘academically talented’ identification in grades K-1 – ...ODE also said the district needed a written plan for the programs and services it provides TAG students....."
http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=126040066061586100
Tigard/Tualatin
Parents take concerns about Talented and Gifted program to Tigard-Tualatin School Board by Sally Ho, The Oregonian
Published Monday, November 28, 2011, 1151 PM Updated Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 1111 AM
http://www.oregonlive.com/tigard/index.ssf/2011/11/parents_take_concerns_to_tigar.html
Tigard-Tualatin Schools to host meeting for Talented and Gifted in light of parent concerns by Sally Ho for the Oregonian,
November 30, 2011
"In January, Tigard-Tualatin School District officials will host a meeting for the Talented and Gifted program. This comes after a dozen parents took to the board Monday night to express concerns, if not out-right frustration, and in light of a push for a parent advisory committee".
http://www.oregonlive.com/tigard/index.ssf/2011/11/talented_and_gifted_program_me.html
Tigard-Tualatin parents take aim at TAG program: District will look into options for gifted students
By Geoff Pursinger The Times, Mar 15, 2012
"Tigard-Tualatin School District Superintendent Rob Saxton said he plans to make Talented and Gifted students more of a priority.
Parents of TAG students have complained for months that the district hasn’t paid enough attention to the program, and have asked repeatedly for a parent advisory committee to address TAG issues and report back to the School Board".
http://www.tigardtimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=133176814399218900
Parents again push Tigard-Tualatin School District on Talented and Gifted program by Sally Ho for The Oregonian
on January 31, 2012 at 10:33 PM
"Many Tigard-Tualatin School District parents expressed frustration and asked questions with no apparent answers at a meeting meant to explain changes to the Talented and Gifted program."
http://www.oregonlive.com/tigard/index.ssf/2012/01/parents_again_push_tigard-tual.html
Talented plus Gifted Equals Trouble by Rob Manning for OPB (state meetings) http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=614788
"Educators Focus on Lifting Gifted Students" by Anne Williams for the Eugene Register
Guard March 16, 2004
"I already learned this": the challenge of teaching TAG students, by Rob Manning and Roxy De La Torre for Oregon Public Broadcasting radio, September 25, 2017
https://www.opb.org/news/series/classof2025/podcast-education-talented-gifted-students-program/
Oregon TAG education lacking, says report; by Amy Wang for The Oregonian Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 8:08 AM Updated: Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 8:08 AM
"As of this fall, all 197 Oregon public school districts have put in writing their plans for supporting the state's 40,375 Talented and Gifted students.
It's one step toward resolving "The Quiet Crisis in Talented and Gifted Education in the State of Oregon" -- as an Oct. 1 report to the Oregon Legislature's Interim Legislative Education Committees describes the current state of TAG education in Oregon......"
http://blog.oregonlive.com/themombeat/2012/11/oregon_tag_education_lacking_s.html
Oregon Senate bill could bring 'massive cuts' in education by Betsy Hammond, for The Oregonian
Monday April 27, 2009, 8:18 PM
Oregon schools would not be required to teach a full school year, have a counselor or librarian on staff, provide services to gifted students, buy new textbooks, teach anti-drug lessons or report to the public on their results for the next two school years under a bill the Senate Education Committee approved Monday.
The measure was described by advocates as streamlining reporting requirements. Schools would not have to report how many minutes of physical education they teach, account for the results of $130 million in school improvement funds they're spending this school year or measure whether kindergartners enter school ready to learn.
But Senate Bill 441 goes much further than that.
It would also allow schools to pare or end programs and services that have long been required: guidance counseling, school libraries, talented and gifted education, drug and alcohol prevention and updated textbooks. The measure would allow school districts to offer as few hours and days of school as they choose. ...
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2009/04/oregon_senate_bill_could_bring.html
Oregon programs for talented and gifted lagging, by Wendy Owen for the Oregonian, Nov. 18, 2009, updated Jan 10, 2019
The National Association for Gifted Children released its biennial "State of the States" report last week and, as usual, revealed that talented and gifted programs across the nation are lagging and Oregon is no exception. Children aren't being identified for high-achieving programs, there's rarely enough funding for TAG programs in the schools, teachers lack training in gifted education and there is no accountability for TAG, which is an unfunded state mandate in Oregon. . . . https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2009/11/oregon_programs_for_talented_a.html
"TAG, You're It": a one-hour call-in program about Talented and Gifted education in Oregon aired on Oregon Public Broadcasting February 18, 2008, with an associated blog. Streaming audio:
http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/posts/list/802210.page
"Purse strings loosen slightly for gifted students, their parents" 03/17/2007
http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8NU47CG2.html
"Leading Minds Left Behind" by Anne Williams, Eugene Register Guard, Monday, Dec. 25, 2006
"Gimre Siblings Thrive as 'Exceptionally At-Risk' Kids" a radio story by Rob Manning of Oregon Public Broadcasting, August 22, 2005. Profile of the Gimres with comments by Jan Davidson. Text version: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=809935
Conference Focuses on Needs of Gifted Students by Rob Manning for OPB http://publicbroadcasting.net/opb/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=699587
The disparities of college prep by Paige Parker for the Oregonian"Oregon Scores Stay High on ACT tests" by Betsy Hammond for the Oregonian http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1061380656263600.xml?oregonian?lced
Sounds good? Read the rest:
"...Oregon students who took the ACT test, "indicated they feel boxed in by their choice of courses
Nearly one in three Oregon students who took the ACT reported that they were dissatisfied with the number and variety of courses offered at their high school. About 43 percent said they were satisfied with the courses offered; the rest were neutral. Nationally, students were significantly more positive about their choice of high school courses.
Richard Ferguson, chief executive of the ACT, said the lack of preparation for college math and science was particularly striking among African American students, suggesting they are not getting the counseling or rigorous coursework they need in high school."
"Summer Lessons Tackle Neglect of Bright Young Minds" by Elena Lesley for the Oregonian, East Metro edition, July 2003.
"Underachievers aren't the only students who need attention.
The brightest minds in a class are often neglected by teachers who assume that good students can do their work with little instruction, said Kristine Fosback, a Reynolds School District teacher for 25 years. Just the opposite is true, she said.
"We have to feed that thirst for knowledge," she said. "There are so many programs for children below grade level, but children above grade level have just as many needs. They need to be challenged; they need to work hard; they need friends they have something in common with."http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/metro_east_news/1059134952289110.xml?oregonian?en
"Bright Students, Dim Budgets" by Wendy Lawton for the Oregonian
"half of the state's school systems during the 2001-02 school year didn't set aside a cent to test and teach their most academically accomplished students. ...Faced with the possibility of closing schools early or jacking up class sizes, districts are eliminating instruction programs, slashing teacher training and whacking testing and supply budgets.
When sharp kids aren't challenged, research shows, they often tune out, act out or drop out. With money for Oregon's gifted and talented students at the lowest point in nearly two decades, parents and educators worry that some of the state's 45,000 gifted and talented students will fall through the cracks."
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1055419315322500.xml
"Clarion Call to Action" An article by Melissa Steineger for the NW Regional Educational Laboratory http://www.nwrel.org/nwedu/fall_97/article3.html
https://www.opb.org/article/2023/03/27/oregon-bill-would-fund-school-talented-and-gifted-programs/
Oregon bill would fund school talented and gifted programs
By Nathan Wilk (KLCC)
March 27, 2023 3:06 p.m.
Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill that would increase funding for talented and gifted programs in Oregon schools.
Students who demonstrate advanced abilities in math or reading are classified as ‘talented and gifted’ in Oregon. And each school district must create a plan to accommodate them.
Backpacks line the hallway at Prescott Elementary in Northeast Portland, Feb. 8, 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
However, there is currently no dedicated state funding for these services. And in 2020, half of the districts reported no spending on gifted students, according to The Oregon Association for Talented and Gifted.
Stephanie Lovdokken, the TAG Coordinator for the Springfield School District, said right now, teachers can’t afford the materials that keep gifted students challenged and engaged.
“Anything we do with these students that they really need has to come from our own paycheck,” she said.
Senate Bill 595 would dedicate one percent of Oregon’s school grant money to TAG services. A quarter of that funding would go exclusively to rural districts. In Springfield, Lovdokken said the money would help train teachers.
The Senate Education committee has scheduled a vote on the bill for this Thursday.
The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) offers a roundup of gifted education news from around the world (most articles are from the US) at
http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=1687
National news can also be found at http://www.geniusdenied.com/articles.aspx?articleid=15&NavID=11_7
individuals can sign up for the free e-mail monthly update on news from the Davidson Institute at
http://news.ditd.org/signup/signup.html
