Highly Capable Program 2015 and beyond

Protocol for tonightPresentation

Please hold or jot down questions as you think of them

Question and Answer Open for general questions If you have a question that pertains specifically to

your son or daughter, the Learning and Teaching team will stay as long as needed to answer those individually

HistoryThrough ‘2012-13, highly capable programs

were largely optional. District received a small grant. PSD ran a 4th and 5th grade self-contained program only in recent years.

Beginning in ‘2013-14, in accordance with HB 5922, all districts need to provide services for HiCap students K-12. Added this year: Challenge program for K-3,

cluster services for Gr. 6-10. A transition year, pending a program review

Program ReviewHiCap Guiding Team, made up of 16 administrators,

teachers, parents, and a School Board member:Review gifted student researchLooked a programs offered around the stateParticipated in site visitsConsidered all of the optionsMade recommendations for Learning and Teaching to

consider

Learning and Teaching’s program recommendations were presented to the School Board on Jan. 22

Big IdeasA school system is like a gigantic ship – it

can’t be turned on a dimeWe have some transition pieces to work

throughKeep in mind what is best for all students as

we

The program changed this year and will change next Working on methods for program evaluationContinuous improvement model

Guiding Principles for ReviewProvide continuous, high quality services for

HiCap students K-12, especially 2nd-8th, with rigorous class options in 9th grade and up.

Provide opportunities for acceleration (for all high achievers as well as HiCappers)

Provide opportunities for highly capable students as appropriate for their profile (students high in all areas or in just one area)

AccelerationOne of the clearest takeaways from research

review – accelerating students when they are academically ready is highly correlated to increased student learning with minimal social and emotional impacts

Academic acceleration is “deciding that competence rather than age should be the criteria for determining when an individual obtains access to particular curricula or academic experiences" (Benbow, 1998, p. 281).

I’ve mapped out the concepts I’ve already grasped to save you time.

Testing and IdentificationKindergarten screening

Top 10% become K/1 cluster cohort

HiCap student referrals: September – January

Spring CogAT testing for referred students in grades 1-8 (including students in 1st grade cluster)

CogAT, academic achievement (ITBS), and creativity measures combine for identifying students in profile 1 and 2 (see next slide).

Myths about HiCap studentsAll students are “gifted”Highly Capable students do not need

any extra services

Teachers and peers need Highly Capable students in the classroom to serve as models

Students are only highly capable if they are “Straight A” high achievers

High Achievers vs. Highly Capablefrom “The Gifted and Talented Child” by Janice Szabos, Maryland Council for Gifted & Talented, Inc.

Biggest ChangesBattery at end of 1st grade to possibly qualify

for HiCap Grades 2-8Students can test in later years as well

Two ProfilesHigh Composites (~top 4%): Self ContainedHigh in Verbal (Clusters in home school elem,

self-contained MS) or Quantitative (clusters in elem, accelerated)

District curriculumAcceleratedDeeper

Early Learning: HiCap ChallengeKindergarten:

Top 10% will qualify for Challenge Program in neighborhood school

Focus will be on acceleration and enhanced learning opportunities

First Grade: Top 10% served through Challenge Program Students will be in “clustered” classes in their

neighborhood schoolFocus will be on acceleration and extension

activities

Grade 2/3 and 4/5Multi Age for the Profile 1 (top 4%

composite) students at Voyager and Minter CreekTransportation providedStay with the same teacher for two yearsFocus on acceleration and deeper learningSocial and emotional focus for Hi Cap

population

For Profile 2, stay in home school and “clustered” in classes of like-profiles

HiCap Middle School Self-contained at Kopachuck and Key Peninsula

MS3 year transition – starting with 6th grade next

year Self-Contained Humanities (ELA/SS):

Includes 5th grade self-contained cohort Some High Verbal Tier 2 students included (counsel

students on appropriate placement)Math is not exclusively HiCap - there are

compacted math options: Screener in May

6th, 6-7 compacted, 7-8 compacted

HiCap Middle School: MathMath is not exclusively HiCap - there

are compacted math options:Screener in May

Some will start in Algebra in 7th (double accelerated)

Options will be available each year through Calculus B/C

Middle School MathOptions A B C6th grade 6th 6/7

compacted

7/8 compacted

7th grade 7th 7/8 compacted

Algebra

8th grade 8th Algebra Geometry

HiCap Middle School: ScienceInvestigate Accelerated/Challenge

Science class (HiCap and high achieving students) – 2016-17, subject to K-12 science review

Transitions Current 4th and 5th graders have option to remain in stay even if Profile 2

Start at 6th grade next year and add a grade each year to full implementation

HiCap HSChallenging courses available in Freshman

yearMath: Geometry or Alg. IIELA: Freshmen—Pre-AP English cluster;

Sophomore—AP Seminar; Junior—AP Research or AP Lit or AP Lang

SS: AP World History/Human Geography or Honors World Cultures

Science: AP Environmental Science or Biology

OngoingGuiding Team will continue to meet to work

on evaluating the program and looking for possible assessment revisions

Hiring outstanding teachers for the new self-contained classes

Becoming more consistent on how clusters are organized

Additional training for challenge and cluster teachers as well as for self-contained

Questions