Delaware-2011-HCR57-Draft

SPONSOR:	Rep. Scott & Rep. Willis & Rep. M. Smith & Sen. Hall-Long
	Rep. Q. Johnson; Sens. Bushweller, Connor, Sorenson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

146th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 57

CREATING A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE PROGRAMS FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, gifted and talented students are those that by virtue of outstanding abilities are capable of high performance;

WHEREAS, these children require differentiated educational programs and/or services beyond those normally provided by regular school programs in order to realize their contribution to self and society;

WHEREAS, to ensure that gifted and talented students in the State of Delaware are in programs that are appropriate and challenging for their needs a study should be conducted;

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 146^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that a "Gifted and Talented Student Task Force" is established to study and make recommendations regarding programs in the State of Delaware for gifted and talented students.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Gifted and Talented Student Task Force ("Task Force") shall be composed of the following members:

(a)The Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education or designee, who shall act as chairperson of the Task Force;

(b)The president of the State Board of Education or designee;

(c)The president of the Delaware Association of School Administrators or designee;

(d)The president of the Delaware Chief School Officers Association or designee;

(e)A member of the Delaware State Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore or designee;

(f)A member of the Delaware State House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives or designee;

(g)A representative from the Governor's Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens ("GACEC") appointed by the executive administrator of GACEC;

(h)Two persons appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

(i)Two persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(j)A representative from the Parents of Gifted Children Resource Group appointed by the chairperson of the Task Force; and

(k)Three (3) members of the Statewide Advisory Council on Programs for the Gifted and Talented appointed by the chairperson of the Task Force.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall:

(a)Examine models used by other states for gifted and talented programs and recommend any model that would be beneficial or enhance gifted and talented programs in the State of Delaware;

(b)Determine if the programs that Delaware is using for gifted and talented students could be improved;

(c)Examine and make recommendations regarding testing used for entry into gifted and talented programs in schools throughout the State of Delaware and determine if there is a need for a uniform test; and

(d)Examine and make recommendations regarding qualifications, guidelines, parameters and benchmarks for gifted and talented programs in schools throughout the State of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff support for the Task Force shall be provided by the Delaware Department of Education.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall present a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate by March 31, 2013.