Welcome to the Reardan-Edwall Highly Capable Program
The Reardan-Edwall School District envisions a quality education through high expectations for all. As a community, we will strive to promote respect for self and others by modeling a caring, safe, and nurturing environment.
It is the policy of the Reardan-Edwall School District to provide optimum learning opportunities for all students K-12 including those who are gifted/highly capable. The Highly Capable Program is intended to provide support for students identified as requiring services beyond the normal learning environment to be successful. Highly capable students are identified following Washington State Definition of Gifted Students:
WAC 392-170-035 Definition – Students Who Are Highly Capable
· Students who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences, or environments.
· Outstanding abilities are seen within students’ general intellectual aptitudes, specific academic abilities, and/or creative productivities within a specific domain.
WAC 392-170-036 Definition – Learning Characteristics
· Capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations.
· Capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers.
· Creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts.
· Ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength.
· Capacity for intense concentration and/or focus.
WAC 392-170-055 Definition – Assessment process for selection as highly capable student.
· Students nominated for selection as a highly capable student, unless eliminated through screening as provided in WAC 392-170-045, shall be assessed by qualified district personnel;
· Districts shall use multiple objective criteria for identification of students who are among the most highly capable. There is no single prescribed method for identification of students among the most highly capable; and
· Districts shall have a clearly defined and written assessment process.
WAC 392-170-070 Definition – Multidisciplinary selection committee
The multidisciplinary selection committee for the final selection of the most highly capable students for participation in the district's program for highly capable students shall consist of the following professionals:
· A special teacher: Provided, that if a special teacher is not available, a classroom teacher shall be appointed;
· A psychologist or other qualified practitioner with the training to interpret cognitive and achievement test results;
· A certificated coordinator/administrator with responsibility for the supervision of the district's program for highly capable students; and such additional professionals, if any, the district deems desirable
Reardan-Edwall policy states:
Highly Capable Programs
In order to develop the abilities of each Highly Capable Program student, the district will offer a highly capable program which provides kindergarten through twelfth grade students selected for the program access to basic education program that accelerates learning and enhances instruction. The framework for such programs will encompass, but not be limited to, the following objectives:
A. Expansion of academic attainments and intellectual skills;
B. Stimulation of intellectual curiosity, independence and responsibility;
C. Development of a positive attitude toward self and others; and
D. Development of originality and creativity.
The board will annually approve the district’s highly capable plan including: the number of students the district expects to serve by grade level; the district’s plan to identify students; a description of the highly capable program goals; a description of the services the program will offer; an instructional program description; a description of ongoing professional development for highly capable program and general education staff; program evaluation; a fiscal report; and assurances that the district is legally compliant.
The superintendent will establish procedures consistent with state guidelines for nomination, assessment and selection of children of demonstrated achievement or potential ability in terms of general intellectual ability, academic aptitude and creative or productive thinking.
Legal References: RCW 28A.185.030 Programs — Authority of local school districts — Selection of students
WAC 392-170Special service program — Highly capable students
Management Resources:
Policy and Legal News, September 2013 Highly Capable Program WAC overhauled
Policy News, April 2008 Highly Capable Programs
Adoption Date: 01.14
School District Name:
Revised: 04.08; 12.11; 09.13
Classification: Essential (if receiving categorical state money)
Referral forms can be obtained on the top left hand side of this page. Referrals are based on data or evidence from teachers, other staff, parents, students and members of the community.
Parental permission will be obtained before conducting any assessments for eligibility. For further information, please contact Jamie Mikelson, Elementary Principal and District Highly Capable Coordinator at (509) 796-2701 ext. 1100 or at [email protected].