In case you haven't yet seen it, here’s some interesting news about UIC offering free tuition to attract high-achieving Illinois students: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-uic-free-tuition-20181009-story.html. This is a very thought-provoking article. If the state is concerned that the brightest students are leaving, they should consider that many leave the state – and especially the City of Chicago – long before college due to a lack of gifted academic options, teacher training, and radical acceleration. It’s equally important to understand that gifted students are not always high achievers. And not all gifted students will be college-bound. Understanding your child's individual profile and strengths is critical to making long term educational plans.

Have you started the long-term conversation about options? What are your thoughts about the “pipeline” and opportunities for top academically talented and/or gifted students. What big picture things should we, as a state, or as a city, be doing, to support our brightest minds?

Does this put additional pressure on our top students? Are they going to be more likely to stay for scholarships? What about on the urgency to get students into selective enrollment public schools? Will some people instead try to stay at a weak school, in order to get a scholarship by having an easy chance at a valedictorian title? Just some thought-provoking questions about what this change means for the gifted/talented population. Drop us a note, we would love to hear your thoughts.

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