This weekend I had the great honor of being a presenter at the Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) Annual Conference. I was actually filling in for Dr. Kelly, who had a family emergency, but it was still an exciting and educational experience.

There are several reasons why ATYP staff are so active with MAGC. MAGC is the statewide voice for gifted education in Michigan. It advocates for services for gifted students with legislators and policy makers. Currently, we are working on legislation requiring schools to identify gifted students. This would be the first step towards future legislation that would mandate services - a lofty goal, but one which is long overdue.

MAGC also offers professional development opportunities for educators on how to provide appropriately challenging curriculum in the classroom, as well as informational sessions for parents and others who care about gifted kids. One-on-one help for parents who are struggling to find appropriate services is also available.

If you are interested in learning more about MAGC, please visit their website at migiftedchild.org. You can also check out their local chapter, Partners in Learning for Unlimited Success (PLUS), at plusofswmi.org. Every person who learns more and speaks out about the needs of gifted students increases the opportunities available to kids both here in Southwest Michigan and across the state.