Gates are supposed to keep things in or keep things out and the GATE program’s purpose is “keeping the gate open to the future.” However, the gate is slowly closing on us.

GATE, Gifted and Talented Education, is a school-wide program known for placing advanced students in the same challenging classes. The program used to receive $38,000 in funds from the state for the purpose of providing them with resources that would, essentially, expose them to higher education. But for the past 12 years, that has not been the case.

After 2003, California cut the funds going into high schools across the state that would be used to aid educational programs, including GATE. It would be up to the schools to decide how they would use their budget to run the program. It was upon to the school to maintain the needs of the students, yet they incorporated no input. However, GATE students continue to leap over this barricade.                                    

I carried this label, “GATE student,” all through elementary, and into middle school. However, it became clear that’s all it was, a label. Thinking back, I cannot remember GATE students ever receiving special opportunities, services, or rewards.  The program itself was more of a prestigious stamp that classified me along with others as the “smart kids” rather than an educational enrichment program that offered real opportunities to succeed. Transitioning into high school, I was struck with the reality that it really was just a label. If the GATE program was active and fulfilling its purpose today, then it would better the chances of students’ success in school.This would be done by providing more resources to classrooms, such as novels, lab materials, and a variety of accelerated classes for the students. It would also provide GATE students with workshops or aid in the college application process and getting through college. But the lack of funds, absence of a GATE coordinator, and lack of the school’s interest has made this impossible. These are the types of assistance and guidance that AVID and the Health Academy provides its students and it is these students who receive ceremonial awards, college visits, junior trips, college presentations, college application workshops,and not to mention, school funding.  

Senior Health Academy student Lizbeth Avilez truly appreciates the academy for the college visits and extra activities it has come to offer. Because of these trips, Avilez is considering pursuing a career in the medical field and attending UCLA. As much as she loves being in the Health Academy, she admits that GATE does deserves at least a little more attention. “The Health Academy has helped me improve all sorts of school related skills like communicating and interacting with others and it helped me decide what kind of career I want to pursue. But I do think GATE doesn’t get the attention as it should. I mean, these students are the top of the top. They just deserve more.”

However, Freshmen English teacher Jane Albano provided some perspective on the lack of GATE funding, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” In simpler terms, GATE students can’t wait around doing absolutely nothing and expecting help or change to arrive. GATE students succeed because they in general are committed high achievers that outperform average standards. With this passion in mind, Albano established the GATE club and set out to provide at least the minimum of what these other programs offer. Albano states, “Everything has been informal and voluntary but in spite of not being funded, we do our best with funding we don’t have.” Last year’s club members were active, fundraising from t-shirts to calla lilies with the goal of visiting Hearst’s Castle and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Hard work all through the year enabled these students to strengthen their initiative competence, form closer bonds with each other, and display leadership skills in the community in order to attain this goal.

Although the lack of funds limit the resources available, the students combat this with their hard work in the classroom. Last year’s 2015 GATE students proved this point true. The top four students of the graduating class, Daniel Gutierrez and Gardelio Mantuhac were co-valedictorians, and David Rosales and Alexis Castillo were co-salutatorians. These students performed at a high level and have accomplished feats that are rare for typical students from Alisal. Gutierrez is currently attending Stanford University, Mantuhac is at UC Berkeley, Rosales is at Massachusetts Institution of Technology, and Castillo is at Dartmouth University. All elite and competitive schools that are ranked at the top of the nation, and our own students, GATE students earned admission to these schools.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
If the GATE program were to be able to offer even the fraction of what these other programs provide, then there would be even more success stories to be told. There has been however, recent positive changes in the GATE dilemma. Albano has been recently appointed GATE/AP coordinator and has started running college workshops along with counselor Sandra Echevarria every Wednesday from 3 to 4 pm. All AP senior students and GATE seniors are welcome and it is a step forward for students in the program. Regardless of funding, it’s the GATE students themselves who are “keeping the gate open to the future.”