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AAGT is the Voice for Arizona’s Gifted & Talented

Receive up-to-the-minute news about important legislation affecting gifted education. AAGT appreciates every contribution and any kind of support given that helps us advocate for the diverse population of gifted children in the state of Arizona.

Overview

Advocacy is the act of supporting or promoting an idea, cause, or policy, and it happens regularly when we express our views to friends, family, or employers. This could involve advocating for our children with their teachers or as educators on behalf of students. Legislative advocacy is a more specialized form, focused on influencing policymakers at local, state, and federal levels. Success in advocacy relies on building trusting relationships over time with decision-makers, which is especially important in legislative contexts. For effective legislative action, gifted education supporters are encouraged to contact their elected representatives on behalf of gifted students. If you’re concerned about lobbying restrictions for 501(c)(3) organizations, you can find more information here.

Toolkit

AAGT and Arizona Department of Education are working together to build a Gifted and Talented Best Practices Toolkit!

Use the buttons below to discover current resources for both educators and parents.

Here’s a brief summary of what you can expect in these Methodology & Strategy Cards:

  1. Interactive Simulations – Designed to engage gifted students through novel, challenging, and multi-disciplinary learning experiences.
  2. Curriculum Methodology Cards – Highlight various instructional strategies like project-based learning, problem-based learning, and active questioning to deepen student engagement.
  3. Interdisciplinary Studies – Ideas for merging knowledge from different subjects to foster a more holistic understanding of complex topics.
  4. Choice Boards and Tiered Lessons – Allow educators to differentiate tasks to match students’ readiness, ensuring that all learners are challenged appropriately.
  5. Divergent Thinking and Depth & Complexity Tools – Techniques to encourage higher-order thinking, creativity, and exploration beyond the surface level of topics.
  6. Socratic Seminar and SCAMPER Strategies – Support independent thinking and creativity, essential for nurturing gifted learners’ intellectual curiosity.

The Arizona Department of Education has built an Gifted Education Best Practices toolkit with the help of Arizona’s top gifted educators and experts. The Gifted Best Practices Task Force recommends the included resources for subject-specific curricular support and gifted challenges/competitions by interest.

Only 13% of Arizona schools are using available state funding for universal gifted screening—is yours?

Screening all 2nd graders helps identify underrepresented gifted students and ensures equitable access to programs. The ADE provides funding for CogAT testing, but 87% of schools aren’t using it. Use this fact sheet to start the conversation with your administration or school board. Don’t leave funds on the table!

Are you part of the Community Action Network (CAN)?

The Community Action Network (CAN), a coalition of citizens organized through AAGT, advocates for equitable gifted education in Arizona by attending meetings, writing letters, and contacting policymakers to raise awareness about gifted students’ needs. AAGT provides relevant information and data to support these efforts, allowing advocates to share personal stories about the impact of proposed actions. During the legislative session, CAN members receive Action Alerts to participate in discussions on gifted education legislation.

Advocacy Updates

The AAGT Advocacy Task Force works each year to keep a pulse on State and National Legislative efforts, as well as advocating at the district level. Please see below for current advocacy efforts.

As a constituent, keep your legislator aware of what is important in your child’s education by remaining in contact with them. It takes many voices to make change and we are counting on you!

To find your district(s) and legislators: www.azleg.gov/findmylegislator/

If you have questions or require further information, please contact the AAGT Advocacy Task Force.

Latest Advocacy News

The State of Gifted Education in Arizona: Insights from NAGC’s State of the States Report

The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) released the 2020-2021 State of the States in Gifted Education report as a snapshot of what gifted education looked like across the country at that point in time. While this data is now five years old, the report still serves as a valuable historical reference for trends, patterns,…

2024 Candidate Action Survey Results

Our 2024 Candidate Survey Results are in – we contacted the candidates in all of the congressional and legislative districts in Arizona to hear their thoughts on Gifted and Talented Education in our state. Here are their responses to our short survey! To find your district(s): azredistricting.org/districtlocator To find your legislators once you know your district: www.azleg.gov/memberroster/sarsa…

AAGT Stands in Support of NAGC

Tell Congress: Don’t Eliminate Javits Funding AAGT is in full agreement with the National Association for Gifted Children’s (NAGC’s) statement opposing the House Appropriations Committee’s decision to eliminate all funding for the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Children Act (Javits Act) in FY2024. View NAGC Statement Here While the Javits Act represents a small…

AAGT Advocacy on YouTube

Arizona Law

Arizona is one of the few states in the nation that has a law regarding the education of gifted students. ARS 15-779 offers the state definition of a gifted child, as well as appropriate services and school responsibilities for the educational and social well-being of gifted students.

15-779. DEFINITIONS

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

  1. “Gifted education” means appropriate academic course offerings and services that are required to provide an educational program that is an integral part of the regular school day and that is commensurate with the academic abilities and potential of a gifted pupil.
  2. “Gifted pupil” means a child who is of lawful school age, who due to superior intellect or advanced learning ability, or both, is not afforded an opportunity for otherwise attainable progress and development in regular classroom instruction and who needs appropriate gifted education services, to achieve at levels commensurate with the child’s intellect and ability.
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