Q: What is the Jacob K. Javits program?
A: Congress recognized an important need to encourage and develop challenging learning environments for school children in America who are blessed with unique gifts and extraordinary academic talents. In 1988, Congress enacted the "Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act" to provide federal financial assistance for the purpose of building a nationwide capability to meet the special educational needs of gifted and talented students across the country. Administered by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Research Education and Improvements, the program funds a national research center that works to develop curriculum and best practices to benefit gifted and talented learners and all students in the classroom. In addition to supporting the efforts of the national research center, the program funds federal grants to states and local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and other public and private agencies to support research and model programs for educating gifted students. By law, special consideration is given to efforts that seek to improve methods of identifying and helping students of outstanding talent from populations traditionally under-represented in gifted programs. To date, the Javits program has funded 125 grants nationwide.
Q: What have you done to foster and improve the federal role in gifted and talented programs?
A: For years I have led efforts to enact legislation that would broaden federal support for gifted and talented programs, specifically to provide matching grants to state education agencies to help local school districts in identifying and providing educational services to gifted and talented students. While the Javits program serves an essential need, more needs to be done to make sure our most gifted minds in the classroom are provided a stimulating learning environment to realize their fullest potential and appreciate the value of hard work. New federal grants would help local school districts better serve this unique student population. Many smaller schools simply do not have the extra resources at hand to identify gifted students, let alone develop appropriate subject matter for them. Last year while Congress hammered out the recently enacted Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), I worked successfully to include my grants legislation and the reauthorization of the Javits Program in the Senate education bill. Although the final House/Senate conference committee removed the new grants legislation, it retained reference to the Javits Program in the final version which the president signed into law in January. Moreover, the final legislation stipulates future funding increases must be reserved for grants to support gifted and talented programs at the state and local level. Congress ultimately increased Javits funding by $3.75 million to $11.25 million for 2002. Although I’m disappointed that more comprehensive support for gifted students wasn’t possible at this time, this funding represents a good step toward my goal of ensuring that a greater share of these federal education dollars flow directly to schools where they can get to work and benefit students in the classroom. I will continue working in Washington to advance education policies that will help the United States identify the best and the brightest in America’s schools. Just as those who struggle with the basics ought to get reinforcements for their special needs, gifted and talented students ought to have the educational opportunity for them to succeed and build upon their unique talents to benefit American society.