TIPS FOR PARENT GROUPS 

• Start small and think big. There is so much that needs to be done. Set realistic goals and prioritize activities to assist in making a positive difference in the education of gifted learners.
• Look for the holes in services and curriculum and choose your group's activities accordingly.
• Work to dispel the many myths about gifted learners.
• Determine your non-negotiables for educational programming and choose your battles carefully.
• Include parents of able learners; they are also looking for high-ended curriculum and enrichment activities for their children.
• Remember that gifted students have varying abilities, interests, and needs. What is right for your child may not be in the best interest of another student. (That's why school systems need to offer an array of services.)
• Consider asking the superintendent to form a Task Force for Gifted and High Ability Learners with parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders. Working together, these groups can find creative solutions to educating our brightest students.

Sub-committees might include: Elementary, Secondary, Special Populations (underachieving gifted, culturally diverse, gifted girls, gifted/LD), Visual and Performing Arts, Identification and Placement.

• Learn consensus building.
• If you are going to host a particularly sensitive meeting, use a good facilitator.
• Invite teachers or a teacher representative to join your group.
• If you charge dues, consider a split (50/50 or 75/25) with school-based parent group affiliates. This $$$ incentive is a membership builder: it truly encourages teachers and parents to promote membership in your organization. PLUS parents like to contribute the their child's school.
• Make your meetings meaningful and DO NOT let your meetings become personal horror story telling time. Nothing kills a group faster! Consider a more positive way to let parents share their frustrations with the school system. Move parents toward fact finding and creative problem solving.
• Divide tasks into smaller tasks so no one is carrying too big of a load. Consider having co-presidents and co-chairmen. Look for people to serve off-board (retired teachers, art teachers, young moms, etc.) to help with different pieces of your activities.
• Send your newsletter to school board members, legislators, media, and other VIPs. Also mail them to the president and/or newsletter editor for parent groups in other school districts and ask those groups to return the favor.
• DEVELOP and distribute a brochure about your organization. Include brief information on the nature and needs of high ability learners (book lists, myths about gifted/able, something that will be helpful to parents). Place the brochures at pre-schools, private & school psychologists' offices, children's museums, libraries, public and private schools.
• Keep organizational by-laws very simple and flexible.
• Piggyback speakers/programs. Contact local Chambers of Commerce, school system, FLAG/PALS, and other organizations to see when they have a note-worthy speaker scheduled so that you might also invite them to speak. Individual schools/classes may also wish to invite the speaker to work with their students.
• Review your district's organizational chart and learn the chain of command.
• Learn to practice "quiet lobbying." Become acquainted with key administrators (Curriculum Supervisors, Director of Finance, Supervisor of Psychological Services, School Board Lobbyists). Share your information, concerns, and ideas with them. Listen to theirs. Much is decided outside of school board meetings and you can effect positive change with this type of non-confrontational approach. Serve on various school district committees.
• Know that your Coordinator (Supervisor, Lead Teacher) of Gifted Programming is an important ally, but never put them in an awkward position with the school district.
• Avoid getting caught up in school district personnel conflict and inside political battles.
• Expand your efforts in advocacy for reform initiatives that impact gifted students but may not be part of "the gifted program": higher academic standards, International Baccalaureate Programs, Advanced Placement classes, flexible pacing, mentorship programs.
• Keep an eye out for early signs of change that might positively or negatively impact gifted students so that you can act proactively. It is easier to prevent than undo.
• Seek common ground with those who appear to oppose gifted education.
• Knowledge is power. Learn as much as you can about the nature and needs of gifted students and what the research says about them.
• Only the president or designee speaks publicly for the organization.
• Avoid confrontation and try to be seen as reasonable negotiators. Ask questions and do not back yourself into a corner. Be persistent, however compromise may be your ONLY choice.
• As a group, remain non-partisan: Do not support or oppose candidates.
• Share information on candidates' positions with your membership and encourage them to actively support candidates of their choice. (The president should remain very cautious in their public support of an individual candidate so as not to confuse their support with that of the organizations.
• Be sensitive to the pressures school district personnel are dealing with. Remember that gifted is just one piece of the educational pie and the financial resources to build that pie are dwindling at the same time student diversity and needs are increasing.
• Read PALS Smorgasbord of Pro-active Advocacy Activities.
• Schools and school districts are unique. Find your niche.
• Celebrate your successes!