WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today said that provisions for gifted and talented education that he has pushed for were included in the Higher Education Authorization Bill that passed the Senate today. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives, so it will now go to the president to be signed into law.
The bill includes Grassley provisions that would require teacher preparation programs receiving grants through the bill to improve the knowledge of new teachers about the unique needs of gifted and talented students.
“The vast majority of teacher preparation programs do not require prospective classroom teachers to have coursework in gifted education. If teachers aren't exposed to information about the needs of gifted students in their pre-service training, they may never acquire the necessary knowledge,” Grassley said. “This is a common-sense provision to ensuring teachers are exposed to the needs of gifted students, who have distinct approaches to learning and interacting socially.”
Current law provides funds to partnerships among teacher preparation institutions, schools of arts and sciences and high-need school districts to strengthen new teacher education and allows these partnerships to use funds for preparing teachers to work with diverse populations. The Grassley provisions included in the Higher Education Authorization bill require that any teacher preparation institution receiving a grant reform its curriculum to ensure that prospective teachers develop the skills to identify and meet the specific learning needs of gifted and talented students, as well as other special populations of students.
Grassley has been the leading advocate for talented and gifted children in the U.S. Congress and has worked to ensure that they have access to the education needed to reach their full potential. Grassley advanced legislation that would expand the availability of gifted education services and he was successful in expanding the benefits available for gifted students through the No Child Left Behind Act.
