FCAPAGE is your local advocacy and support group for gifted students and their families. Fox Chapel Area Association for Gifted Education is the local affiliate chapter of the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE), a statewide advocacy group for mentally gifted students.
Some helpful questions and answers:
Since 1988, the FCAPAGE Board Members have met with district administration, served on district committees, testified before the State Board of Education Committee on Special Education, recognized good teachers, and provided speakers, programs and newsletters to educate parents about the issues affecting their children’s education. FCAPAGE has also sponsored enrichment programs for children.
Most recently, FCAPAGE has provided input in the elementary math and research curricula and on grade 9 and 10 English and social studies.
FCAPAGE advocates for gifted students’ rights to an appropriate education, helps parents advocate for their own children by providing information about educational options available to them and offers information regarding current research and trends in gifted education.
Like children with other types of learning support needs, academically gifted children learn at different paces and in different ways than others their age. For example, a 6-year old gifted child may require one math problem to understand a concept, read at a 4th grade level, play 9-year old strategy games, and still need friends who understand what it is to be a 6-year old. Pennsylvania, like many states, has recognized this and mandated that children identified as academically gifted require special services and programs not provide in the regular education program. Assuring these children are challenged to meet their potential takes active collaboration between school, child and parents. Gifted advocacy has the potential to benefit an entire school by pushing it to raise its traditional “ceiling” of standards to even higher levels.
Membership in FCAPAGE is open to any Fox Chapel Area School District parent, guardian, teacher, administrator or any person interested in supporting gifted education. Our organization focuses its energies in our district but is interested in gifted education throughout the state and the nation.
Membership begins each year on the first day of the school calendar of the Fox Chapel Area School District.
The local chapter is waiving dues this year. All you need to do is sign up here.