Highly Capable Program

The San Juan Island School District’s Highly Capable Program is a full inclusion model at the K-8 level.This means students are served in their regular classrooms. For each identified student, a student learning plan (SLP) is developed at the beginning of each school year and is revisited during each conference. The purpose of the SLP is to ensure identified students receive the services necessary to facilitate academic growth. At the high school level, students are served through a variety of advanced course offerings.

 

Teachers, students, parents, community members, and students can refer students for the highly capable program. To refer to students, please contact the child’s school. Those interested in referring a student for the highly capable program will complete the referral form, and the student will be assessed during the next identification activity. Identification activities take place each year in the fall (September/October) and the spring (May/June). The identification process uses a multiple measures approach to help teachers, principals, and parents make appropriate decisions about the learning needs of highly capable learners.

For a referral form, click here (English) or click here (Spanish) 

 

The State of Washington defines highly capable children as students who exhibit a high capability in intellectual and/or creative areas, possess an unusual leadership capacity, or excel in specific academic fields, thereby requiring services beyond the basic programs provided in school.

 

The identification process uses a multiple measures approach to help teachers, principals and parents make appropriate decisions about the learning needs of highly capable learners. Students can be referred by parents, teachers, counselors, students, administrators, and community members. The Cognitive Abilities Test (COGAT) is administered to all students referred for highly capable testing. This is not an IQ test, but it does show ability in advanced thinking and problem-solving. Scores from the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA), Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) and other district assessments are also part of the process.

 

High Achiever	Highly Capable
Remembers answers	Poses unforeseen questions
Is Interested	Is Curious
Answers questions in detail	Ponders multiple perspectives
Needs 6-8 repetitions to master new learning	Needs 1-3 repetitions for mastery
Is accurate and complete	Is original and always developing
Absorbs Information	Manipulates Information
Is pleased with own learning	Is self-critical
Gets A's	May not be motivated by grades
Is able	Is intellectual
Learns with ease	Already knows