Highly Capable Program Information
| Name | Position | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan Lonsway | Supervisor of Professional Development | 583-5150 | jlonsway@cloverpark.k12.wa.us |
The Highly Capable Program is established on the belief that gifted student welcome the challenge of a more rigorous curriculum. This program serves students in grades 4 - 8 whose abilities & talents are so exceptional or advanced that they require special interventions to meet their academic needs. Standards-based instruction requiring higher cognitive demand & more sophisticated evidence of student learning are both hallmarks of this program.
Student Identification
Students in grades 3-7 may be nominated for screening by classroom teachers, their parents, or they may nominate themselves by making a formal request to their school's counseling office. In order to obtain a well-rounded assessment of a student's eligibility, three different test scores may be considered:
- The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is used primarily at the elementary level as an aptitude test that measures in younger children their potential ability to discover & use relations either with words, numbers, or symbols to solve problems & to show flexibility in reasoning. CogAT screenings are held each spring at each school site for fall placement & takes approximately three hours. For specific testing dates contact your student's counselor or principal. Before a student can take the CogAT, a parent/guardian must complete a permission form.
- The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) is a nationally normed assessment used to measure academic progress in mathematics & reading. This test is a more accurate predictor of a student's success at the secondary level as it measures actual academic growth. There is no need to make a special request for this benchmark testing as it is administered three times a year in all classrooms.
- State assessment results from the prior school year may also be factored into identification.
Military Transfer Students
Our district participates in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. If a military child received gifted services in his/her previous school, we will strive to offer comparable services. In most cases, no placement testing is required. Military families planning a transfer to Joint-Base Lewis McChord should contact Jan Lonsway at the number above as early as possible to ensure a smooth transition for the student.
Out-of-District Students
Only students who are currently enrolled in our district are eligible for Highly Capable Program testing. However, parents of out-of-district students may request that their child be tested in order to determine eligibility by first pre-enrolling him/her in our district for fall placement.
- Students in grades 3 and 4 who reside on the JBLM would be tested at Clarkmoor Elementary.
- All other students in grades 3 and 4 would be tested at Oakbrook Elementary.
- Students in grades 5 through 7 would be tested at the middle school within whose boundaries they reside.
Contact the appropriate school's principal in order to begin the waiver process. Once a waiver is obtained, contact the school counselor in order to register for the next upcoming testing session. It is recommended that parents pre-enroll their child at least a month before the March testing window opens in order to allow plenty of time for the waiver to be approved. Parents will be notified via letter of whether or not their child met eligibility requirements.
Note: Parents will only be informed of whether or not the child qualified for services. Actual test scores will not be released to parents until the child is fully enrolled.
Home-Schooled Students
Parents of home-schooled students who reside within the CPSD boundaries and have already registered with our district may request to be tested.
- Students in grades 3 and 4 who reside on the JBLM would be tested at Clarkmoor Elementary.
- All other students in grades 3 and 4 would be tested at Oakbrook Elementary.
- Students in grades 5 through 7 would be tested at the middle school within whose boundaries they reside.
Parents will be notified via letter of whether or not their child met eligibility requirements. Contact Jan Lonsway in Teaching and Learning Office at 253-583-5150 in order to register for this testing.
Qualifying Criteria
To fully qualify for placement, a student must score in the 95th or higher percentile in two sections of a nationally normed aptitude test (CogAT), & one of those sections must measure quantitative ability. As space in the program allows, placement is also offered to rank-ordered students based on a composite score of both state & district interim benchmark (MAP) assessments. (See above.) Qualifying students will be notified via letter no later than July 15 of their placement determination & start date. Note: Students who qualify for special education services or are on a 504 plan may request an evaluation from the Teaching & Learning Office of other pertinent classroom achievement data to determine eligibility.
Elementary Placement: Self-Contained Classroom
Qualifying students in grades 4-5 are offered full-time placement in a self-contained Highly Capable classroom where the pacing & academic expectations of lessons are highly rigorous. Students may participate for one or both years of the two-year program. For some children this will mean relocating from their present school to either Clarkmoor or Oakbrook Elementary Schools. District transportation will be provided. Important: A parent or guardian must 1) withdraw the child from the current school & 2) enroll the child at the new school to complete the enrollment process.
Students who reside on Joint Base Lewis-McChord are placed in the self-contained Highly Capable classroom at Clarkmoor Elementary School, which is located at South Division & Liggett on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. All other students are placed at Oakbrook Elementary School, which is located at 7802 83rd Ave SW.
Middle School Placement: Integrated Studies Courses
Each middle school offers special Highly Capable classes that integrate all core subjects—math, science, language arts, & social studies—in a project-based format. Often additional assignments & projects may be required, as Highly Capable students tend to learn at an accelerated pace. The middle school counselor will automatically place him/her in these courses whenever scheduling permits.
Harrison Preparatory Academy
While students at Harrison Preparatory Academy are welcome to take the CogAT to determine eligibility, please note that Highly Capable Program services are not available at this school. Harrison Preparatory Academy is a choice school that offers students a Middle-Years International Baccalaureate program for grades 6-10. To learn more about this choice school, contact the school principal directly for information about enrollment & eligibility criteria. A course catalog can also be found on the district webpage.
The Appeals Process
The appeals process is established in order for parents to provide information on their child to the Highly Capable Central Appeals Committee that may have been unavailable to the screening committee at the time of determination of eligibility for program. If you wish to appeal the decision made of your student's qualification status, you must submit a letter within two weeks of receipt of your child's qualification status letter. Please address the letter to: Highly Capable Program; Student Services Center; 10903 Gravelly Lake Drive SW; Lakewood, WA 98499-1341
The Central Appeals Committee will review your letter & the information you provide. You will be contacted as to the date, time, & location for an appointment with the Appeals Committee. Please consider the following criteria, when preparing evidence for your appeal, that your student:
- Shows initiative & originality in intellectual work;
- Sustains concentration for lengthy periods; persistent intellectual curiosity;
- Shows insight into math problems that require careful reasoning & grasps mathematical concepts readily; has advanced problem solving ability;
- Reads avidly & absorbs books well beyond his or her years; and
- Writes & speaks with an advanced vocabulary.
Non-English speaking parents may request an interpreter by calling (253) 583-5150, to request a district interpreter be present at the appointment with the Central Appeals Committee.
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