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At the school committee meeting it was mentioned that Warwick was in the minority in Rhode Island providing a gifted program such as ALAP, which I think was something to be proud of. However the context of those comments seemed to be that therefore a program like ALAP was not needed or desirable. I think if we are going to use that sort of contextual comparison we should look nationwide. Rhode Island is one of only 10 states with no legislation mandating or funding gifted education. What a shame and disservice to our children! The following links to a map on the status of gifted education policy state by state. http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/state_policies.aspx

I still do not understand how an afterschool creative enrichment program available to children whose parent's work schedules allow for that time frame addresses the vacuum left in ALAP's absence for children who have a specialized learning need. I think creative enrichment programs are a fabulous idea, I really do, but it doesn't address ALAP at all. We are talking about removing a program addressing children's educational needs as part of their school day education, not a supplement to education but a program to address their unique needs during their school day vs. an after school extra.

I also am disheartedned by Ms. Bachus' comments regarding the children in the classroom not in ALAP. I have never heard an ALAP student or parent refer to or consider kid's not in ALAP as dumb, that is a ridiculous assumption and assertion. Many ALAP families have children in and out of ALAP in the same family. I know in my daughter's grade there were four students in ALAP, is Ms. Bachus asserting that every other child in her grade somehow then was burdened with a label of being dumb? Not only is that untrue I think it is a deliberate red herring thrown in to muddy the true issue of providing adequate education for every child and learning type. I don't know what children she spoke to that didn't like being pulled for ALAP, but it is a voluntary program, and if she had listened to the sobbing outside the auditorium door when ALAP was cut I am sure that she is fully aware that isn't the case for most ALAP students.

I sincerely hope to see the school committee members, Dr. D'Agostino and Mr.Bushell attend the meeting on Monday at 6 pm at the Warwick Library to hear the concerns of the parents of students affected as well as to hopefully form an effective partnership for ensuring all the children in Warwick elementary schools receive an appropriate education for their unique needs.

From: Parents say new programs can't replace ALAP

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