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Highly Capable Program

Mission Statement

The Snoqualmie Valley School District recognizes the varying aptitudes of students and works to adapt the instructional program to develop the talents and interest of each.  The District shall offer appropriate instructional programs to meet the needs of exceptionally gifted and talented students of school age.   The framework for such program shall encompass, but not be limited to the following objectives:

  • Expansion of academic attainments and intellectual skills
  • Stimulation of intellectual curiosity, independence, and responsibility
  • Development of a positive attitude towards self and others
  • Development of originality and creativity

Description of Services

The elementary Highly Capable program focuses on Critical Thinking Skills in the areas of Science and Mathematics.  Participating students have demonstrated a high aptitude in one or both of these areas.   The program is a pull out model where students meet with the Highly Capable teacher for approximately two hours once a week at their respective schools.

The fourth grade program emphasizes ‘Systems’ throughout the school year.  Learning activities include; Flight Simulations for engineering, Insects, Extension learning trips to the Aviation Learning Center and the Bellevue College Planetarium.  Additional activities include the Pond Study Challenge and Project Polaris where students build a space station.

The fifth grade program focuses on ‘Exploration’.  Learning activities include: Mathematics and Science simulations, Space, Robotics, Robotics teleconference with Johnson Space Center, Extension learning trips to the Pacific Science Center, and the Challenger Learning Center.

The Highly Capable program curriculum is not meant to replace the district curriculum expectations as students are required to demonstrate they meet the grade level expectations (GLEs) in the areas of mathematics and science.  The Highly Capable teacher is committed to providing a more challenging cognitive and rigorous curriculum and to maintain high learning expectations for all Highly Capable students.

Notification, Assessment Tools, Screening, and Selection Procedures

I. Notification Procedures for Assessing

There are two primary sources to provide parents and students with information regarding the Highly Capable program.

  • A letter is sent home with all third grade students in the district describing the Highly Capable program for students in grades four and five. 
  • Information regarding the Highly Capable program is posted on our district website.

II. Assessment Tools

The Snoqualmie Valley School District uses two assessment instruments to qualify a student’s participation in the Highly Capable program.

  • Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).  This assessment measures learned reasoning and problem-solving skills in three different areas:  verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal. 
  • Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS).  The ITBS is a nationally norm-referenced assessment that measures a student’s achievement in reading and mathematics. 

III. Selection Criteria

  • The CogAT is used as the initial screening tool to determine whether students will qualify for the ITBS assessment.  Students scoring at or above the 85th grade level percentile on the verbal and/or quantitative portions of the CogAT are invited to participate in the Iowa Test of Basic Skills assessment. 
  • Students who have qualified based on their CogAT results are invited to participate in the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and  must score at or above the 85th grade level percentile in reading and/or mathematics in order to be considered for placement in the Highly Capable program as a fourth grade student.  

IV. Selection Procedures

  • The Highly Capable teacher, building principal, the student’s previous year teacher, and as needed, the school counselor and/or school psychologist participate in the selection process.   The District level administrator who oversees the Highly Capable program approves the list of recommended students for participation in the Highly Capable program.  

Program Evaluation

The elementary Highly Capable program is evaluated in several ways on a yearly basis. The students keep an ongoing journal reflecting on their learning related to the program focus for each year of the program.   Parents are provided opportunities to provide feedback regarding their child’s experience in the Highly Capable Program.  Students’ performance on the state assessment (Measure of Student Progress) is monitored in grades four and five to ensure they are meeting the required learning standards in reading and mathematics.   The students’ third grade CogAT results are compared to their results on the CogAT assessment in the fall of their fifth grade year.  Students’ results on the science portion of the Measure of Student Progress are also analyzed as an indicator of the program’s success.  

Parent Permission and Appeal Process

I. Parent Permission

  • Parents are notified in advance that the CogAT and ITBS assessments will be administered to their child.
  • Once recommendations have been made, the District Highly Capable Program Coordinator shall inform the parents of the results prior to the end of the school year. 
  • For students who are invited to participate in the program, parents must sign and return a permission slip approving their child’s participation in the Highly Capable program for their fourth and fifth grade years.  
  • If parents do not wish to place their student in the Highly Capable Program, they need to inform the District Highly Capable Program Coordinator.

II. Highly Capable Program Appeals Process

  • Prior to the end of the school year, students and parents are notified that their child did not qualify for participation in the Highly Capable program.   Parents may appeal this decision by completing the Elementary Highly Capable Program Appeal Form. 
  • The Highly Capable Appeals Committee will consider all information that the parent believes was not representative of the student’s skills, knowledge, or ability.  The student’s classroom teacher(s) may be asked to provide additional information.  
  • All appeals must be in writing and received by the Highly Capable Program Coordinator on or before the specified deadline each year.   
  • The decision of the Appeals Committee may be appealed in writing to the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning within ten (10) working days of receipt of the decision of the Appeals Committee.
  • The decision of the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning shall review the appeal and notify the parent of his/her decision in writing.
  • The decision of the Assistant Superintendent may be appealed in writing to the Superintendent within ten (10) working days of receipt of the decision. 
  • The decision of the Superintendent shall be final. 

Students New to the District

  • New students nominated for participation in the Highly Capable Program who enrolled after the selection process without scores from pre-approved assessment(s) or are not from a highly capable program will be assessed by the District for potential admission to the program. 
  • New students who have been enrolled in a Highly Capable Program for which the entry criteria meets or exceeds the Snoqualmie Valley School District criteria shall be considered for placement in the program.

Beyond Elementary School

  • Services for Highly Capable students are also provided at the middle and high school.
  • At the end of the fifth grade year, students in the district are considered for inclusion in an accelerated math class and the differentiated Language Arts class at the middle level.  
  • Various assessment measures are used to determine middle school placements including:
    • Fifth Grade CogAT results
    • Reading Assessment Instrument (RAI)
    • End of Year Mathematics Proficiency Assessment
    • Measure of Student Progress (MSP – State Assessment)
    • Fifth Grade spring writing assessment 
  • At the high school level students may take honors classes and/or receive college credit for their work through advanced placement courses at Mount Si High School, Running Start at a community college, and/or the Snoqualmie Valley Virtual Academy.