Together, we can develop Louisiana's most precious natural resource -- our gifted and talented students!
The association of Gifted and Talented Students of Louisiana was established to promote the education of Louisiana's gifted and talented students and to insure the continued implementation of legislation that protects the valuable services that educational institutions provide for these students. Parents of gifted students have the opportunity to meet and learn more about important issues affecting their children.
Local AGTS of Louisiana meetings and a state conference are held annually. Teachers of the gifted and talented have numerous professional development opportunities. Students have the opportunity to participate in activities such as Academic Field Days and be nominated for the Nicholas Green Award.
Parents and teachers who belong to AGTS of Louisiana receive state and local newsletters and announcements.
Our Objectives:
To work with government
and civic leaders in developing a plan for all areas of the nation;
to focus maximum available resources toward the education and enrichment
of gifted and talented students;
To support funding,
public and private, for the benefit of gifted and talented students;
To encourage chapter
organizations throughout Louisiana to find, utilize to the fullest,
facilities in various communities for these special children;
To involve leadership
of communities, citizens, and parents in planning and development of
all facets of the effort;
To encourage the
identification of gifted and talented students;
To assist parishes
and communities in sharing and communicating their experiences with
helping these children;
To develop a program
for educating parents, teachers, and other interested members in
the community to assist them in understanding and meeting the needs
of gifted and talented students.
Membership
Benefits
Receive "The
Digest", a quarterly newsletter, with up-to-date national,
state and local articles covering issues related to the needs of gifted
and talented children
Reduced prices at
state conferences with nationally recognized speakers, workshops, and
education for parents, teachers, and others
Support legislative
monitoring and lobbying on all levels including the Louisiana Legislature,
BESE, Louisiana Department of Education, and the U. S. Department of
Education, and Congress
Affiliation with
the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and other related
organizations and their resources
Funding for teacher
mini-grants, and adult and student awards, recognizing educational innovation,
outstanding leadership, and academic excellence
Support and assistance
from a state organization that coordinates and provides leadership for
local chapters
Liaison with all
state universities providing advance publicity about their programs
for gifted and talented students
National and international
network of parents, educators, administrators, legislators, and
other concerned citizens who share the same goal -- providing the
best possible education for children
Activities
The AGTS of Louisiana
...
Publishes a newsletter
for members, with information especially helpful for parents, educators,
and students;
Holds conferences
and programs to develop organizational leadership and understanding
for gifted and talented students, their needs, and how to meet their
needs;
Awards mini-grants
to teachers who use innovative strategies in the education of gifted
and talented students;
Has created awareness
of needs of gifted and talented students becoming nationally known;
Has developed a
handbook giving step-by-step process for groups to organize and immediately
begin developing services for the gifted/talented;
Has obtained Internal
Revenue Service tax-exempt status as a central organization so that
chapters automatically receive such status upon joining the organization;
Is incorporated
under the laws of the State of Louisiana as a non-profit organization
with corporate protection shared with chapters which join the Association;
Did You
Know?
In 1972, Louisiana
became one of only three states with a legal mandate to identify and
serve gifted students.
Louisiana now has
gifted programs in all 66 school districts and talent programs in 30.
Louisiana leads
the nation with the most stringent certification requirements for teachers
of the gifted and talented?
The Association
supports the LA Department of Education efforts to expand child
search, screening, and identification of underrepresented minority
children through 8(g) grants.
The AGTS
of Louisiana, an all-volunteer organization of parents, educators, and
concerned citizens, made all these things happen!