,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #eab ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #aa1 #bjac ,mr4 ,grassley 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,mikulski1 and ,mr4 ,casey7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife to aid gifted and talented and high-ability learners by empowering the ,nation's teachers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,to ,aid ,gifted and ,high-,ability ,learners by ,empowering the ,nation's ,teachers ,act or the ,,talent ,act4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4 ,sec4 #b4 ,findings4 ,sec4 #c4 ,references4 ,,title ,i--,improving basic program requirements ,sec4 #aja4 ,state plans4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,annual ,state report cards4 ,sec4 #ajc4 ,local educational agency plans4 ,sec4 #ajd4 ,national ,assessment of title ,i4 ,,title ,,ii--,improving teaching for gifted and talented students ,sec4 #bja4 ,state applications4 ,sec4 #bjb4 ,local applications and needs assessments4 ,sec4 #bjc4 ,local use of funds4 ,sec4 #bjd4 ,subgrants to eligible partnerships4 ,,title ,,iii--,gifted and talented students in rural schools ,sec4 #cja4 ,small rural school achievement program4 ,sec4 #cjb4 ,rural and low-income school program4 ,,title ,,iv--,supporting essential research on the learning needs of gifted and talented students ,sec4 #dja4 ,supporting essential research on the learning needs of gifted and talented students4 ,,title ,v--,general provisions ,sec4 #eja4 ,definitions4 ,sec4 #ejb4 ,amendments to other laws4 ,sec4 #ejc4 ,effective ,date4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,academically gifted and talented students make up an estimated #f to #aj percent of the prekindergarten through grade #ab student population1 totaling between #c1jjj1jjj and #f1jjj1jjj students4 7#b7 ,there is a growing excellence gap at the highest levels of achievement between the performance of subgroups of students1 particularly between the performance of students who are ,african-,american or ,hispanic and the performance of ,white students1 and between low-income students compared to their more advantaged peers1 on statewide assessments and on the ,national ,assessment of ,educational ,progress4 7#c7 ,advanced students in the ,united ,states lag behind the performance of similar students in other countries1 which puts the ,nation at a competitive disadvantage4 7#d7 ,gifted and talented students1 and high-ability students who have not been formally identified for gifted education services1 require modifications to the general education curriculum to fully meet their potential4 7#e7 ,effective assessment and instruction of gifted and talented students requires educators to have specialized knowledge and skills4 7#f7 ,ninety percent of teachers nationwide want more professional development focused on the skills necessary for teaching advanced students4 7#g7 ,interventions and strategies that have been demonstrated to be successful with gifted and talented students can be modified to improve the achievement of all students4 7#h7 ,the availability of gifted education programs and services to students who require such services is unequal and often relies solely on local resources and leadership1 leaving many high-ability students from rural areas or who are ,english language learners or ,hispanic1 ,african-,american1 or ,native ,american1 among others1 without access to appropriate services4 7#i7 ,there are an estimated #cfj1jjj students in the ,united ,states who are both gifted and have a disability4 ,these twice exceptional children present special challenges because their disability often masks their academic potential or their academic strengths may mask their disability1 resulting in a lack of services and supports for this student population4 7#aj7 ,the development and dissemination of research and national data on gifted and talented students is necessary to-- 7,a7 guide evidence-based classroom practices vital to meeting the unique needs of this population of students2 and 7,b7 contribute to the decisionmaking of educators1 families1 and policymakers4 #c4 ,references ,except as otherwise expressly provided1 whenever in this ,act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to1 or repeal of1 a section or other provision1 the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcja et seq474 ,i ,improving basic program requirements #aja4 ,state plans 7a7 ,accountability ,section #aaaa7;b77#b77;,a7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77#b77;,a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7ii71 by striking and after the semicolon2 7#b7 in clause 7iii71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7iv7 include a recognition program for local educational agencies in the ,state that1 for each category of students described in subparagraph 7,c77v71 significantly increase the proportion of students scoring at or above the advanced level of achievement on the ,state academic assessments under paragraph 7#c74 4 7b7 ,state assessments ,section #aaaa7;b77#c77;,c7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77#c77;,c77 is amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7xiv71 by striking and after the semicolon2 7#b7 in clause 7xv71 by striking the period and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7xvi7 measure individual academic achievement1 including measuring above grade level achievement4 4 7c7 ,accountability system ,section #aaaa7;b77#h7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77#h77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,d71 by striking and after the semicolon2 7#b7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,e7 as subparagraph 7,f72 and 7#c7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,d7 the following3 7,e7 the specific steps the ,state educational agency will take to assist each local educational agency and school affected by the ,state plan to provide additional educational assistance to individual students who-- 7i7 perform at the advanced level of achievement on the ,state academic assessments described in paragraph 7#c72 and 7ii7 are gifted and talented 7including high-ability students who have not been formally identified for gifted education services72 and 4 #ajb4 ,annual ,state report cards ,section #aaaa7;h77#a77;,c7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;h77#a77;,c77 is amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7vii71 by striking 2 and and inserting a semicolon2 7#b7 by redesignating clause 7viii7 as clause 7ix72 and 7#c7 by inserting after clause 7vii7 the following3 7viii7 a comparison of the performance of students between different local educational agencies across the ,state at each level of achievement described in subsection 7b77#a77;,d77ii71 disaggregated by the subgroups described in subsection 7b77#b77;,c77v72 and 4 #ajc4 ,local educational agency plans 7a7 ,plan provisions ,section #aaab7;b77#a7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcab7;b77#a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,p71 by striking and after the semicolon2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,q71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,r7 a description of how the local educational agency will identify gifted and talented students1 including high-ability students who have not previously been formally identified for gifted education services1 and implement educational approaches at the elementary and secondary levels to support the learning needs of gifted and talented students to ensure that such students make appropriate learning gains1 such as early entrance to kindergarten1 enrichment1 acceleration1 curriculum compacting1 and dual enrollment in secondary school and postsecondary education4 4 7b7 ,schoolwide programs ,section #aaad7;b77#a7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcad7;b77#a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,k7 ,a description of how the school will identify gifted and talented students1 including high-ability students who have not previously been formally identified for gifted education services1 and provide services to support the learning needs of such students to ensure that such students make appropriate learning gains4 4 7c7 ,targeted assistance schools ,section #aaae7;c77#a7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcae7;c77#a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,g71 by striking and after the semicolon2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,h71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,i7 identify gifted and talented students1 including high-ability students who have not previously been formally identified for gifted education services1 and provide services to support the learning needs of such students to ensure that gifted and talented and high-ability students make appropriate learning gains4 4 #ajd4 ,national ,assessment of title ,i ,section #aeja7;a77#b77;,e7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fdia7;a77#b77;,e77 is amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7iv71 by striking and2 7#b7 in clause 7v71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7vi7 made public an analysis of excellence gaps and a description of activities to close any such gaps4 4 ,,ii ,improving teaching for gifted and talented students #bja4 ,state applications ,section #baab7;b77#e7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffab7;b77#e77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 ,a description of the comprehensive strategy the ,state educational agency will use to improve the teaching skills of teachers1 principals1 pupil services personnel1 and other instructional leaders in order to enable them to employ strategies that focus on-- 7i7 the identification of students' specific learning needs1 particularly students with disabilities1 students who are limited ,english proficient1 students who are gifted and talented1 and students with low literacy levels2 and 7ii7 the tailoring of academic instruction to such needs4 4 #bjb4 ,local applications and needs assessments 7a7 ,local applications ,section #babb7;b7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffbb7;b77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#ab7 ,a description of how the activities will have a substantial1 measurable1 and positive impact on student academic achievement and how the activities will be used as part of a broader strategy to eliminate the achievement gap and the excellence gap4 4 7b7 ,needs assessment ,section #babb7;c77#b7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffbb7;c77#b77 is amended by inserting shall be based on an analysis of the achievement and learning needs of students at each level of achievement described in section #aaaa7;b77#a77;,d77ii7 on the ,state academic assessments1 disaggregated by each subgroup described in section #aaaa7;b77#b77;,c77v77,,ii71 and before shall be conducted4 #bjc4 ,local use of funds ,section #babc7;a7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffbc7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by striking to carry out and inserting to increase student achievement for all students1 including limited ,english proficient students1 students with disabilities1 and gifted and talented students1 by carrying out2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#c77;,b7-- 7,a7 in clause 7iv71 by striking and2 7,b7 in clause 7v71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7vi7 provide training to support the identification of students who are gifted and talented1 and to implement instructional practices that support the education of such students1 such as early entrance to kindergarten1 enrichment1 acceleration1 curriculum compacting and dual enrollment in secondary school and postsecondary education4 4 #bjd4 ,subgrants to eligible partnerships ,section #bacd7;a77#a7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffcd7;a77#a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking and after the semicolon2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 teachers1 principals1 and pupil service personnel have the training to support the identification of students who are gifted and talented1 including high-ability students who have not been formally identified for gifted education services1 and implementation of instructional practices that support the education of such students1 such as early entrance to kindergarten1 enrichment1 acceleration1 curriculum compacting and dual enrollment in secondary school and postsecondary education2 and 4 ,,iii ,gifted and talented students in rural schools #cja4 ,small rural school achievement program ,section #fbaa7;a7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gcde7;a77 is amended by inserting 1 including supporting gifted and talented students 7including high-ability students who have not been formally identified for gifted education services71 after local activities4 #cjb4 ,rural and low-income school program ,section #fbbb7;a77#b7 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gcea;a7a77#b77 is amended by striking and to train and inserting 1 train teachers to meet the unique learning needs of gifted and talented students1 including high-ability students who have not been formally identified for gifted education services1 and train4 ,,iv ,supporting essential research on the learning needs of gifted and talented students #dja4 ,supporting essential research on the learning needs of gifted and talented students ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences1 shall-- 7#a7 continue research and development activities related to the education of gifted and talented students1 particularly research and development activities related to such students who reside in rural communities or have been underrepresented as gifted and talented1 including students who are low-income1 limited ,english proficient1 students with disabilities1 and students from minority backgrounds2 7#b7 support a ,national ,research and ,dissemination ,center on the ,gifted and ,talented that conducts research and serves as a national clearinghouse for evidence-based best practices to improve the identification and instruction of gifted and talented students2 7#c7 administer demonstration grants that build and enhance the ability of elementary school and secondary school personnel to support gifted and talented students2 and 7#d7 ensure that statistical data related to the education of gifted and talented children in kindergarten through grade #ab in the ,united ,states and in other nations is collected1 reported1 analyzed1 and disseminated4 ,v ,general provisions #eja4 ,definitions ,section #iaja 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#ai7 through 7#db7 and paragraph 7#dc7 as paragraphs 7#bj7 through 7#dc7 and paragraph 7#de71 respectively2 7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#ah7 the following3 7#ai7 ,excellence gap ,the term excellence gap means differences in the percentage of students performing at the highest level of achievement described in section #aaaa7;b77#a77;,d77ii7 between different subgroups described in section #aaaa7;b77#b77;,c77v77,,ii74 2 and 7#c7 by inserting after paragraph 7#dc71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#a71 the following3 7#dd7 ,teaching skills ,the term teaching skills has the meaning given the term in section #bjj of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife4 4 #ejb4 ,amendments to other laws 7a7 ,coordination of ,federal ,,stem education ,section #aja7;b7 of the ,america ,,competes ,reauthorization ,act of #bjaj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ffba7;b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the first subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#e77;,d71 by striking and after the semicolon2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#f71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by inserting after paragraph 7#f71 the following3 7#g7 encourage participating agencies to develop and implement activities and programs that support advanced students in kindergarten through grade #ab1 including advanced students who are from low-income families and advanced students from other groups that are underrepresented in the ,,stem fields1 in order to promote advanced students' pursuit of careers in ,,stem fields4 2 and 7#b7 by redesignating the second subsection 7b7 and subsection 7c7 as subsection 7c7 and subsection 7d71 respectively4 7b7 ,laboratory cooperative science centers other authorized education activities ,section #cafd of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #aiia 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #gcha;b7a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#e7 by inserting ,the ,secretary shall determine which students are eligible to participate in such mathematics and science education programs based on the academic achievement of such students4 after development facilities42 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#ac7 by inserting ,the ,secretary shall determine which middle-school students are eligible to participate in such prefreshman enrichment program based on the academic achievement of such students4 after by universities on their campuses44 7c7 ,advanced ,placement and ,international ,baccalaureate programs ,section #fabc of the ,america ,,competes ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ihcc7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7 by striking and after the semicolon2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b7 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 the availability of ,advanced ,placement or ,international ,baccalaureate mathematics1 science1 and critical foreign language courses earlier than is typical to students who are prepared for such work4 2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7f77#b7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,e7 by striking and after the semicolon2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,f7 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,g7 how the eligible entity will make ,advanced ,placement or ,international ,baccalaureate mathematics1 science1 and critical foreign language courses available earlier than is typical to students who are prepared for such work4 4 #ejc4 ,effective ,date ,this ,act1 and the amendments made by this ,act1 shall take effect #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act4