Parents of students in grades 1-4

Please…

• Silence your cell phones

• At the conclusion of the

presentation, if you have

questions unique to your child,

please contact the Accelerated

Programs office directly for

assistance. Note: Presentation is posted on the Accelerated Programs web page.

Heather Sanchez Director, Accelerated Programs, Choice & Innovation

Teresa Barber 4/5 Full-time Quest Smith ElementaryCasey Conroy 4 / 5 Full-time Quest Thoreau ElementaryAllegra Garai 4 / 5 Full-time Quest Bell ElementaryNancy Pfaff Pull-out Quest Thoreau Elementary

Britt Galen Accelerated Programs PsychologistDiane Durant Accelerated Programs SupervisorSuzanne Hurd Accelerated Programs Administrative Secretary

Jaya Ramesh Gifted Education Advisory Council

Heather Sanchez

Each student

will graduate

prepared to

lead a rewarding

responsible life

as a contributing

member of our

community and

greater society

Every Student

Future Ready:•Prepared for College

•Prepared for the Global Workplace

•Prepared for Personal Success

Values Goals

Ide

als

Oppo

rtun

ity &

Equ

ity

Inno

vatio

n

Impr

ovem

ent

Highly capable students are 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.

✓ These students are present not only in the general populace, but are present within all protected classes according to Chapters 28A.640 and 28A.642 RCW.

The legislature finds that, for highly

capable students, access to accelerated

learning and enhanced instruction is

access to a basic education.

There are multiple definitions of highly capable. The

research literature strongly supports using multiple

criteria to identify highly capable students, and therefore,

the legislature does not intend to prescribe a single

method. Instead, the legislature authorizes school

districts to identify through the use of multiple, objective

criteria those students most highly capable and eligible to

receive accelerated learning and enhanced instruction in

the program offered by the district.

Districts shall make a variety of appropriate program services available to enrolled students who participate in the district's program for highly capable students. Once services are started, a continuum of services shall be provided to the student from K-12.

14

K-5 Highly

Capable (HC)

2-5 Pull-Out

Quest

2-5

Full-Time Quest

Middle School Quest

High School Course

Enrollment

Once a week

30 min.

math and/or

reading

enrichment

at home

school

Once a week

full day

enrichment

at specific

sites

Self-

Contained

classroom

at specific

sites

Self-

contained

Middle

School core

classes at

specific sites

Course

Enrollment

Options to

include Honors,

College in the

High School,

Running Start,

Advanced

Placement (AP)

Highly capable students in grades 2-5 are placed in one of three different programs, based on their assessments.

• The Full-time Program places students in a Quest classroom full-time, five days a week.

• The Enrichment Pull-out Program enables students to attend a Pull-out Quest classroom one day a week.

• The K-5HC Program provides once per week small group reading or math enrichment at the student’s attendance area school.

Full-time Quest Highly Capable Services• The Full-time program provides our most highly capable

students the opportunity to engage in rigorous, challenging, integrated and enriched curriculum with their academic peers.

• The program is designed to meet the needs of students who have been identified as having exceptional cognitive and academic ability by accelerating and enriching the district curriculum.

• Students are enrolled in a self-contained classroom all day, five days a week.

Full-time Quest Highly Capable Services• Full-time Quest classes are multi-aged with a

2nd/3rd grade or 4th/5th grade grouping of students.

• The learning pace is faster than in the regular education program; students are expected to perform work that exceeds grade level standards by at least one grade level.

• In addition to the accelerated district curriculum, the Full-time Quest program emphasizes advanced academic thinking skills and strategies, strong communication and collaboration skills and an increased awareness of local and global citizenship.

Full-time Quest Highly Capable ServicesFull-time Quest programs are currently located at:

• Alcott Elementary, Redmond

• Bell Elementary School, Kirkland

• Blackwell Elementary, Sammamish

• Christa McAuliffe Elementary, Sammamish

• Clara Barton Elementary, Redmond

• Einstein Elementary, Redmond

• Ella Baker Elementary, Redmond

• Redmond Elementary, Redmond

• Rosa Parks Elementary, Redmond

• Smith Elementary, Sammamish

• Thoreau Elementary, Kirkland

The district assigns a student to attend a Full-time Quest school based on his/her home address. School assignment is subject to change.

Allegra Garai4/5 Quest

A.G. Bell Elementary(former 2/3 Quest teacher)

2/3 Math

One grade level advanced

enVision Math

2nd graders use 3rd grade curriculum

3rd graders use 4th grade curriculum

Ongoing assessment is at the level the student is studying.

Taught in the multi-age setting of the students classroom.

2/3 Language Arts

One to two grade levels advanced McGraw Hill Reading Wonders 3rd and 4th

grade curriculum Whole class studies the same thing Annual themes

“relationships/environments”◦ Mix of 3rd and 4th grade curriculum each year.

Genre/trait/analytical writing supplemented with other programs like Step Up to Writing and Lucy Calkins

2/3 Social Studies

TCI (Teacher’s Curriculum Institute)

Second and third grade materials

Enriched with teacher created cross curricular units. Enrichment units may include:◦ Ancient Greece, Rome, China, Egypt

◦ Forest/Desert/Prairie Environment and Native People

2/3 Science

2/3 FOSS kits

Engineering is Elementary kits

Enriched with teacher created cross curricular Social Studies units

2/3 Literacy and Math Enrichment

Enrichment may include:◦Novel studies connect science and social studies

◦Dramatic plays connected to science or social studies

◦Problem Solvers math

◦Marcy Cook Math

◦Teacher created math projects

◦Field trips

Casey ConroyTeresa Barber

4 / 5 Quest Baker ElementarySmith Elementary

Overall Structure

Thematic approach across curriculum and subjects

Rotating themes “Exploration/Systems”

Accelerated one year in Math

Accelerated one to two years in Language Arts

Enriched with added Quest curriculum and teacher created materials

4 / 5 Quest Overall Structure

Emphasis on➢Project-based learning

➢Cooperative learning in groups

➢Presentation skills

➢Creativity

➢Critical thinking

➢Ownership in the learning process

➢Self management skills

4/5 Math

One grade level advanced in Math to 5th and 6th grades

enVision 5th grade math for 4th graders

Glencoe 6th grade math for 5th graders

Additional unit projects, challenge assignments and opportunities for advanced problem solving are provided

Many sites have extracurricular math teams

4/5 Language Arts

One to two grade levels advanced in textbooks

Prentice Hall Literature series, 3 Units each year

Writing Coach, Step-Up to Writing, 6 plus 1 writing traits used for instruction

Students read and complete 2 book reports each month (one oral & one written) in the same theme or genre

Writing/Reading is embedded across the curriculum and is a huge focus at 4/5 level

4/5 Social Studies

4th and 5th grade themes “Exploration/Systems”

TCI (Teacher’s Curriculum Institute)

Washington, Our Home

Enriched with teacher created cross-curricular research and study units

Additional instruction provided through simulations

4/5 Science

4/5 FOSS kits

Engineering is Elementary kits

Rotating annual themes are planned to cover as much of each year’s standards as possible to prevent gaps in knowledge

Science Fair

The Quest Program is a great learning adventure for students who value hard work and have the desire to learn!

Your I Will is more important than your IQ!

It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.

Pull-out Quest Highly Capable ServicesThe Pull-out program provides highly capable students the opportunity to engage in challenging, integrated and enriched project-based learning with their academic peers.

The program is designed to meet the needs of students who have been identified as having exceptional cognitive and academic ability by enriching their elementary curriculum.

Students attend their home school four days a week and the Pull-out classroom one day a week.

Pull-out Quest Highly Capable Services

The Pull-out program focuses on project based

learning with an emphasis on integrated social

studies and science themes.

Projects focus on literacy and math using higher level

thinking skills, in-depth learning, collaboration and

cooperation and presentation skills.

Pull-out Quest Highly Capable Services

Pull-out Quest programs are currently located at:

• Christa McAuliffe Elementary, Sammamish

• Wilder Elementary, Redmond

• Thoreau Elementary, Kirkland

The district assigns a student to attend a Pull-out Quest school

based on his/her home school. School assignment is subject

to change.

Nancy PfaffPull-out Quest

Thoreau Elementary

Pull Out Quest

Enrichment not replacement program

Opportunity for students to work with other students who are also advanced learners and thinkers one day a week

Structure and content are based on learning characteristics of gifted students

Deciding What’s Right for Your Child

Pull out meets different needs than full time

Time to work at an advanced level for part of their schooling

Student’s home base remains their home school

Enrichment rather than replacement

Four Components

Thematic based content units

Higher level thinking skills (creative and critical thinking)

Research skills

Social/emotional needs of highly capable students

• Services begin in February for Kindergarten students who qualify for the

Highly Capable Services.

• K-5HC staff provides 30 mins/week reading or math small group

instruction at home school.

• Students who participate in the

K-5HC program in kindergarten will

continue services through 5th grade

unless they become eligible for a

Quest Program.

Kindergarten

students engage in

reading enrichment.

• Teachers pick up students in their classrooms and work at a designated location in each school. Teachers walk students back to their classrooms at the end of the enrichment session.

• During the session students engage in hands-on activities that encourage creative and critical thinking and problem solving.

• After the session, extension activities are available for students to work on in class or at home.

• Student’s classroom teachers also

receive support to enhance in-class

differentiation for highly capable

and high ability students.

Students engage in math instruction

by building 2D and 3D shapes.

Number

Sense

Problem

Solving

Logical Reasoning

Heather Sanchez/Diane Durant

• Parents, staff or community members may nominate a student for Highly Capable programs. Parents of nominated students must complete an online application. Please contact the Accelerated Programs Office if a paper application or a translated application is needed.

• Students must reside in LWSD boundaries to apply for and participate in Quest programs.

• Students must go through the district's highly capable assessment process for selection. Private testing results are not accepted.

• First grade students who attend LWSD schools do not complete the online application in October.

• All 1st grade students attending LWSD schools are screened for Highly Capable Programs at their home schools using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Screening Form.

• LWSD first grade classes will administer the CogAT Screening Form between November 5 and November 15.

• Parents of LWSD first grade students who score at the 95th age percentile rank or higher on the district-wide 1st grade CogAT may complete the online application for their student in December. Students who qualify for further assessment who scored at the 95th to 98th APR on the CogAT Screening Form will be scheduled to take the FULL CogAT and the Iowa Assessments. Students who qualify for further assessment who scored at the 99th Age Percentile Rank on the CogAT Screening Form will be scheduled for the Iowa Assessments only; these students do not need to take the FULL CogAT.

• Complete the Online Application between October 1 and 4:00 PM on October 26

• Take the CogAT Screening Form on Saturday November 17

• Students who qualify for further assessment who scored at the 95th to 98th APR on the CogAT Screening Form will be scheduled to take the FULL CogAT and the Iowa Assessments. Students who qualify for further assessment who scored at the 99th Age Percentile Rank on the CogAT Screening Form will be scheduled for the Iowa Assessments only; these students do not need to take the FULL CogAT.

• Complete the Online Application between October 1 and 4:00 PM on October 26

• If your child attends a private school, please upload ➢ Proof of residency for students in grades 1 to 4

➢ Proof of age for students in grades 1 to 4

➢ End of Year report cards for students in grades 2 to 4

➢ SBA or other standardized test results for students in grade 4

• If your child attends a LWSD school this year but did not attend a LWSD school last year, please upload

➢ End of Year report cards for students in grades 2 to 4

➢ SBA or other standardized test results for students in grade 4

LWSD has revised the screening process beginning September 2018. All applicants will now participate in the CogAT Screening Form as part of the multiple objectives for screening. Report card grades will no longer be used to screen out a student from consideration.

Students are screened using DIBELS from the previous year and the CogATScreening Form. The typical score range to qualify for further assessment is:

• At standard or above on DIBELS

• Composite SAS 126-160 (95-99 Age Percentile Rank) on the CogAT Screening Form

Students who qualify for further assessment who scored at the 95th to 98th APR on the CogAT Screening Form will be scheduled to take the FULL CogAT and the Iowa Assessments. Students who qualify for further assessment who scored at the 99th Age Percentile Rank on the CogAT Screening Form will be scheduled for the Iowa Assessments only; these students do not need to take the FULL CogAT.

LWSD has revised the screening process beginning September 2018. All applicants will now participate in the CogAT Screening Form as part of the multiple objectives for screening. Report card grades will no longer be used to screen out a student from consideration.

Students are screened using the Smarter Balance Assessment (SBA) results from the previous year and the CogAT Screening Form. The typical score range to qualify for further assessment includes:

• Level 4 in SBA ELA and in SBA Math (or equivalent for private school students and for students who did not attend Washington state schools in 2017-18)

• Composite SAS 126-160 (95-99 Age Percentile Rank) on the CogAT Screening Form

Students who qualify for further assessment who scored at the 95th to 98th APR on the CogAT Screening Form will be scheduled to take the FULL CogAT and the Iowa Assessments. Students who qualify for further assessment who scored at the 99th Age Percentile Rank on the CogAT Screening Form will be scheduled for the Iowa Assessments only; these students do not need to take the FULL CogAT.

• Don’t wait until the last minute – we are unable to accept late

applications!

• If your child is currently enrolled in a private school or is home

schooled or did not attend a LWSD school last year, you must submit

required supplemental documentation by October 26. We will not

process your application if it is not complete!

• If you have trouble with online application or need an application in

another language, please contact the Accelerated Programs Office. We

will help you!

• Check your child’s birthdate before you submit the application

• If your child has a 504 or IEP on file with the district, check the

appropriate box on the application form. If you have started a 504 or

IEP for your child, enter that information in the Comments section.

• If your child has severe health issues, note this in the Comments

section. You must remain on site when your child is taking

assessments with us.

• Make sure your email addresses are entered correctly. Please enter

only one email address per parent.

After you select Submit Your Application,

• you will see a message on your screen stating Your application has been

submitted to LWSD successfully. Please call our office at 425-936-1238 if have

any questions. Thank you for applying.

• An email confirmation will be sent to the email address you entered as the

Primary Email.

• Save your email confirmation for your records!

Please do not fill out multiple applications!

If you need to make a change to your application, email quest@lwsd.org.

Frequently Asked

Questions

• Can out of district students apply?• Students must reside within the Lake Washington School

District at the time of application to be eligible for Highly Capable Services. Students must remain residents of the district to continue to receive services.

• What documents do I need to provide proof of residency in LWSD?

• Proof of residency is required for families whose child attends a private school, a school outside of the LWSD, or who is homeschooled.

• Families typically provide documents including current mortgage statements and current utility bills.

• How can I talk with parents of students in Highly Capable Programs?

• The Gifted Education Advisory Council (GEAC) is a good source of information about Highly Capable programs from the perspective of parents.

• Can I observe an elementary highly capable program?• We are unable to schedule classroom observations as

part of the application process. With high interest in programs, this would create a distraction to the learning environment. Our website provides a thorough overview of our programs to enable families to get a sense of what the day-to-day experience is like for students.

• How are eligibility decisions made?

All eligibility decisions are made using a body of evidence

(or multiple objectives). Assessment criteria, including

typical ranges for eligibility, are published on the

Accelerated Programs web page. A Multi-Disciplinary

Selection Committee (MSC), which includes at a

minimum a psychologist, department administrator and

instructional specialist review all evidence for each

student together to make an eligibility decision.

• How will I know if my child meets the screening criteria?• Families will receive an email status notification

approximately 3 to 4 weeks after the student takes the CogAT Screening Form.

• What if my child gets sick or we have a family emergency and cannot take the CogAT or IOWA assessment?

• If your child is ill or your family experienced an emergency on the day of the assessment, please email quest@lwsd.org before the test begins. Students with a documented illness or documented family emergency are provided one make up date set by the district.

• I had my child privately tested. Can I submit these results with my application?

• LWSD does not accept private testing results in place of or in addition to district assessment results. Accepting private evaluations creates potential inequity based on the ability of parents to pay for a private evaluation. Instead students participate in the district assessment process at no cost.

• I had previous teachers write letters of recommendation. Can I submit these with the application?

• Letters of recommendation are not a part of the body of evidence reviewed by the Multi-Disciplinary Selection Committee (MSC).

• How do I learn more about the assessments used as part of the eligibility process?

• All information about the assessment process can be found on the department web page. Parents are welcome to explore these resources.

• Should my child study or “prep” for assessments?

• We do not recommend or endorse “prepping” students for the assessment process. The information reviewed for each student includes information about current classroom performance, academic achievement and ability measures to provide a robust learner profile.

• What if my child has an IEP or 504?

• If your child has a current IEP or 504 please make note of that on your application. Documented testing accommodations are provided during the assessment process.

• How many times can my child be nominated or apply?

• Students can be nominated/apply for highly capable services each year.

• If my child applies multiple times, can we use scores from a range of years?

• Each year eligibility decisions are made based on the most current and full body of evidence for each student for that year. Data from previous years is not utilized. Criteria and assessment tools can change from year-to-year. To ensure equal access for each applicant each year, that student’s current body-of-evidence is reviewed in consideration of the current eligibility criteria.

• My child is in private school and

qualifies for services. Where will

he/she receive services?Qualifying private school students would need to be

present in their assigned LWSD school when the

services are offered. School assignment for Highly

Capable Services is based on the student’s home

address. Quest school assignment is subject to

change.

• If my child becomes eligible for service, how will we know the time/location of services?

• Students who become eligible for services are offered placement based on home address. Students in the K-5HC Program are provided services during the day in their attendance area school. Students participating in Full-Time and Pull-Out Quest are assigned a program within an established feeder pattern. School assignment is subject to change based on overall district and program enrollment.

• If my child is already in a highly capable program and we decide to apply for another program and my child does worse on the assessments, will they be removed from the program?

• Once a student becomes eligible for and participates in a highly capable program, they remain eligible for that program unless they decline services or become eligible for and participate in a different highly capable program.

• What if my child becomes eligible for service, but we are not sure whether or not we want to participate?

• We are here to work with families. Our office staff and our department psychologist frequently talk with families regarding program participation decisions.

• What are the typical class/group sizes for students in highly capable programs?

• Class and group sizes in highly capable programs aligns with class and group sizes across the district.

• Is transportation provided for students?• No transportation is needed for students participating in

K-5HC services as students are served in their attendance area school. Transportation to and from the attendance area school to the assigned Pull-out or Full-time Quest site is provided.

• If my child participates in highly capable programs and we have a concern/question, who should we talk to?

• Please start with the teacher. If you feel the matter has not been fully addressed, next speak with the school counselor and principal. If the matter continues to remain unresolved the Accelerated Programs office may be contacted.

• I still have some questions. Who should I contact?

• If you have a question unique to your child, please call our office at (425) 936-1238 or email quest@lwsd.org.

• This presentation is posted on the Accelerated Programs web page.

• The FAQ document can be located on the Accelerated Programs web page.

• Video FAQ series is posted on the Accelerated Programs Web page.

What is

GEAC?Who we are What we do

2018-2019

Board

ABOUT US

o501c 3 started in 1989 to support the highly

capable community in LWSD

oWorks in coordination with the LWSD and the

highly capable community, similar to a local PTA

oOur operating budget is funded 100% by annual

donations and corporate matching.

What is GEAC?

Who we are

o GEAC membership consists of families in the

LWSD highly capable community, primarily

current or past Quest families.

o Educators and other community members are

welcome and encouraged to join.

o All are volunteers

Outreach AdvocacyEducationEnrichment

To support the unique needs of highly capable students enrolled

in the Lake Washington School District.

What we do

Fostering communication and connection

amongst highly capable stakeholders

Supporting highly capable student

learning in the classroom, making available

funding for enhancements

Total GEAC Grants 2017-2018

Soy Grants Disbursed $11,113.89

Application Grants Disbursed $8,849.34

Application Grant Categories

Field Trips $1,822.40

Classroom Supplementary Material $1,852.24

Conference and Professional Development $2,553.41

Offering information about and/or access to

relevant education and support opportunities

for parents, students, and educators in the

highly capable community

Panel Discussion on Middle School Options

Board Game Nights

Julia Robinson Math Festival

Austin DeBonte Guest Speaker on “What Parents Need to Know About Smart kids”

Newly Qualified Parents Meeting in May

Panel Discussion on Twice Exceptional

Advocating for the needs of highly capable students

before families, the LWSD School Board,

and the LWSD administration

Officers of GEAC

Jaya Ramesh President

Anusha Rao President-Elect

Daval Davis Treasurer

Anhaita Jamula Secretary

Elizabeth Walkey VP Outreach

Pronita Mehrotra VP Grants

Rathi Sudhekar and Sangeetha Jagadeesan-

CO VP of Advocacy

17 Board Members at

large!

Grants committee

Education committee

Advocacy Committee

High School Student on

board

Board Info

Thank You!

www.lwsdgeac.org

https://www.facebook.com/LWSDGEAC/