IN WHAT WAYS MIGHT STATEWIDE ADVOCATES FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION COORDINATE AND FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS

When advocates for gifted and talented education in the state of Utah found that their overall efforts seemed diffused and uncoordinated, they used creative problem-solving processes to address their common concerns. The result was the ratification of a concise, mutually acceptable mission and goals statement that was designed to give direction to statewide efforts on behalf of gifted and talented children for years to come. The document provides focus and direction by defining common goals and recognizing ownership of the logical tasks belonging to each advocacy group. Flexibility for future growth and development in the field of education of the gifted is a salient feature of the goals described. The impact of the document was felt immediately in improved services for children, better inservice training for educators, and more focused policy at the state level.