Gifted Association of Missouri

ACTION ALERT! BUDGET UPDATE: This week the Senate finished crafting their version of the $34.7 billion FY 2022 budget and the FY 2021 Supplemental Budget. However, there are numerous items within the budget that are available for conference. One of the items of importance to GAM that will go to Conference is funding for the Missouri Fine Arts Academy and the Missouri Scholars Academy. The Senate recommended $750,000.00 and the House recommended $200,000.... Both the House and Senate sent the budget bills to conference where they will meet to work out the differences between the two chambers. Members of the Conference Committee have not been named, yet, but it is most likely that the Chairs, Vice Chairs and Ranking Minority Member will be appointed to the 10 member Conference Committee. That would include: House Chairman Cody Smith [email protected] 573-751-5458 House Vice Chair Dirk Deaton [email protected] 573-751-9801 House Ranking Minority Rep. Peter Merideth [email protected] 573-751-6736 Senate Chairman Dan Hegeman [email protected] 573-751-1415 Senate Vice Chair Lincoln Hough [email protected] 573-751-1311 Senate Ranking Minority Senator Lauren Arthur [email protected] 573-751-5282 Please contact these members and respectfully request they take the SENATE POSITION TO FUND THE ACADEMIES!!

It's a great morning to learn with GAM District 7 and Kansas Gifted, Talented and Creative Region 6! Keynotes from Tracy Elford and Dr. Rick Courtright will discuss how to approach advocacy for our gifted learners.

We are letting #moleg know that gifted education in Missouri is a right, not a privilege -- it's time for a mandate! #advocacy

ACADEMIES FULLY FUNDED BY SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE! The Senate Appropriations Committee approved $750,000.00 to fund the Missouri Fine Arts Academy and the Missouri Scholars Academy for June, 2022 thanks in large part to Senator Barbara Washington. The House had recommended $200,000.00 and the Governor recommended zero. This item will have to go to Conference to be decided what the final amount will be. Please contact your State Senator if they are on the Appropriation...s Committee and thank him/her for supporting the Arts and the Academies. The next step in the budget process will be approval by the full Senate. Please contact your State Senator to urge his/her support for the Committee’s recommendations. The deadline for the legislature to have the budget on the Governor’s desk is 6pm, on Friday, May 7.

ACTION ALERT: The House Education Committee will hear SB 152, which contains the gifted education language, on Tuesday, April 13, at 8:00am. We need your voices! You can submit written testimony online in support of gifted education for gifted students in ALL Missouri schools: https://house.mo.gov/WitnessForm/Default.aspx?noticeid=6080

A big congratulations to Natalie C., from the Springfield School District, for winning the Gifted Association of Missouri’s Postcard Contest. You can see Natalie’s design on the GAM website & the upcoming publication of the GAMbit. Her postcard will be used by the organization to help support Gifted Education throughout the state of Missouri. Awesome design, Natalie! Also, you still have time to submit your testimony for the Gifted House Bill 306. The hearing is at 1p today at the Capitol.

Call for Proposals for #GAM21 are open! Be part of connecting virtually as we explore Resilience and Reinvention in gifted education in our state. Our virtual conference will be October 1-2. Share your expertise at http://www.mogam.org/conference.html -- deadline to submit is June 1.

HOUSE BUDGET APPROPRIATES $200,000 FOR ACADEMIES The House Budget Committee marked up the $37 billion budget, yesterday. Rep. Ed Lewis, R-Moberly, who was a former teacher at MSA, was successful in adding $200,000 to fund the Missouri Scholars Academy and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy for June, 2022. Rep. Brenda Shields and Rep. Peter Merideth spoke in favor of the amendment. The Governor recommended zero funding. GAM is advocating to add another $500,000 to the line item in the Senate. Please help by contacting your Senator to ask for his/her support for the Academies!

ACTION ALERT: HB306 has a hearing in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday at 1:00pm. Written testimony is needed! To submit go to https://senate.mo.gov/senatewitnesssystem/

#savethedate #NTW21

Here's a chance to support gifted students representing Missouri in the National Future City competition!