A group of parents, teachers, and administrators who are interested in supporting the following resolution and task force.

The Executive Board of the Fairfax County Council of PTAs (FCCPTA), at their November meeting, approved a resolution requesting the Fairfax County School Board create a GT/LD Task Force to review and revise the FCPS Program for supporting the achievement of gifted students with special needs. The County Council made this recommendation in order to assist staff, parents and students in understanding the identification process and in accessing appropriate instruction and accommodations for students who are Twice Exceptional because they are both gifted and have learning disabilities.

The Twice Exceptional students are often not appropriately identified because their brilliance and disabilities mask one another. In fact all too often adults see only the rough parts/challenges - the student's inability to write, read or organize effectively which often result in attitudes of discouragement and defeat. When these "diamonds in the rough" are found, and provided appropriate early and continuous interventions... not only can we help them reach their potential, we identify and promote their gifts which will benefit our society.

On December 2, the FCCPTA presented the resolution to the FCPS School Board. As of this writing, both the Fairfax County Association for the Gifted (FCAG) Board and the Fairfax County School Board's Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities have voted to support the approved FCCPTA GT/LD Resolution.