The board unanimously agreed Monday to oppose as a group any legislation that would remove the intellectually gifted category from the state's definition of disability and hence from special education.

The board is responding to reports that legislation is being filed that would shift responsibility for intellectually gifted children from school systems' special education departments to the general education curriculum.

"Our gifted students have challenges," said board member Sara Lewis, who sponsored the resolution with Lora Jobe. "They deserve protection as much as students on the other end of the spectrum."

The board's stance also is being added to the school district's legislative agenda, which is sent to legislators in Nashville.

It may sound odd to some that intellectually gifted students are lumped under the same special education category as those with learning disabilities or even severe mental or physical disabilities.

But school officials counter that putting gifted students in the special education category allows them to have individual education plans and protection that the average student doesn't get.

"A lot of people don't realize that gifted children are at risk to fail," Jobe said. "We need to meet children where they are. It's crucial to their education."

January 15, 2002