LoveEducation, how large is your district? What percentage of students are in the G/T realm? (In other words, what's the maximum number of parents you could expect to be interested in your efforts?) I know, from having been in many different parent support groups over the years, that you may start out with an enthusiastic group, but it's apt to involve less than 10% of members in actual event planning and meetings.

It sounds as if your group is trying to be more like a SEPTA (Special Education PTA) except for G/T parents, trying to limit your scope to one district. If that's your intention, then maybe my experiences aren't pertinent, but the SAGE group I mentioned earlier was around for over a decade, and it encompassed not only parents from one district, but several. In that way, they were able to learn about "best practices" in multiple places. Teachers, as well as parents, were always welcome to attend. They must've gotten a grant or charged dues at one time, or had generous past members who donated money and/or other resources, because they had an extensive "lending library" of various books on G/T and "2e" topics. They were able to afford bringing in some "well-recognized" speakers to different meetings over the years...(Most meetings featured local G/T professionals, but about once a year they'd have a "bigger name," like Linda Silverman, Jim Delisle, etc.)

LoveEducation,
You might look into other parent GT groups in your area. Hopefully your state GT office can put you into touch with other parent groups in your area. If feasible, you could join together to make the group that much stronger. If that is not possible, you might still get some good advice on formalizing your group from others who have been through the process.

We are at an informal stage of our group and would like to formalize it and add some structure. We also are looking for best practices, goals, and tasks that many have been led by other parent GT groups that we can learn from or adopt. We all agree that our GT students are being under-served. Our goal is to Advocate and advise the school district where improvements are needed, and help provide suggestions and solutions to how the improvements can be made. We are at the very early stages and would like to start in the right direction vs. wasting time with missteps. We also agree that while we may all have our grievances, we want to find a partnership with the school district and maintain positive dialog while advancing the program for the benefit of each of our individual students but also all our students and those to come.

FTE = Full-time equivalent. 50% would be a half-day staffed position, healthy.

LoveEducation, I've not been part of a formal GATE support group, but as you've found the budgeting mess in many communities is causing to cut in many school areas--including GATE. If you can stay informed and speak as a group, you will be heard by your school site council and your school district.

Hi. I'm not sure what you're asking, or what FTE stands for, but in my community, I've been involved in GT parent support programs over the years (we had a local group called SAGE - Supporters and Advocates of Gifted Education) Unfortunately, as the coordinator's children grew older, and entered high school/college, it seemed like nobody was willing to take over the leadership, and it's since disbanded. What are you trying to find out?