Proposed legislation that would harm gifted programs in North Carolina

We would like to ensure you have seen the request relating to the proposed legislation in North Carolina relating to educational policy and funding (NC AGT is the parent organization for PAGE of Wake County)
https://tinyurl.com/attack-on-gifted-funding

From the NC AGT post linked above:
(This budget would result in:)
"Elimination of entire programs and services from some communities (e.g., low-income, rural, underrepresented racial and ethnic groups). Entire districts could now receive $0 from the state for AIG.
Reduction/elimination of talent development programs. If only the top 4% of students in the state are identified, then many currently identified students will be forced to be "degifted". There will be no funding to support services for them.
Reduction of identified gifted students from 163,115 (April 2022) to 55,128 out of the 1.3 million students currently enrolled in NC schools"

Other articles on this topic (with a broader focus on educational policy- not limited to gifted educational policy/ funding):
https://governor.nc.gov/.../state-emergency-public...
https://www.newsobserver.com/.../article275659111.html
https://www.ednc.org/2023-01-23-nc-legislature-education.../
https://www.ncleg.gov/Com.../CommitteeInfo/HouseStanding/166

​Disagree with the proposed legislation? 
Please Act Now:
Contact your legislator to:

• Ask: Why shouldn’t schools have local control over who they identify as AIG?
  
• Ask: How will advanced students who are not in the state's top 4% receive appropriate services?
  
• Ask: Will my child (who has already been ID’d) be “degifted” by the state legislature? Overruling their teacher and school?
  
• Share your child’s story about how gifted and talented services have made a difference in their life
  
• Tell them to remove section 7.2a and 7.2b from HB 259 and keep the current AIG funding and model in place.
  
• Invite your representative to your community to have discussions about the importance of Gifted & Talented services
  

You can click the first link below to find out who your representative is, and/or, if you prefer to contact the entire membership of the education committee, you can find them at the second link below.
Find your Representatives
Senate Ed Committee (Standing)
Senators By County

Update:
Governor Roy Cooper has declared that public education in the state of North Carolina is facing a state of emergency. Visit his website to learn more.