Instruction Procedure 2190P: REACH

REACH Highly Capable Program

The following procedures shall be used to nominate, assess and select students for Port Townsend’s highly capable program.

Program Description

1. The district uses a matrix (2166P-F1) to identify the top 10% of the school population, grades 4-12, as highly capable according to the criteria described herein. Teachers receive a list of these identified students (top 10%) and are encouraged to increase the pace and/or complexity of their school work whenever possible and appropriate. Counselors, administrators, teachers endeavor to involve these students in appropriatelty challenging academic programs. All top 10% students receive notification of grade level enrichment activities and special educational opportunities funded by the state grant for highly capable students.

Nomination

1. Parents (Guardians) may nominate their children at any time by completing a “Parent Inventory” (2166P-F3) and submitting it to the district REACH Coordinator. Those new to the district are given this opportunity upon entrance. Each spring, inventories shall be sent to parents of students in grade three.
2. Annual nomination of students in grade three shall take place in May. Third grade teachers shall complete a “Teacher Checklist of Creative and Cognitive Characteristics” (2166P-F4). This survey notes students with particular intellectual and creative strengths and assists teachers in choosing students to nominate.
3. Teachers nominate students by submitting a “Teacher Checklist of Creative and Cognitive Charachteristics” (elementary 2166P F4, secondary 2166P F5).
4. In addition to the annual addition of a new group of 4th graders, qualified students may be nominated at any grade level and at any time.

Assessment and Selection

1. All REACH Highly Capable Program nominations are sent to the district REACH Coordinator who facilitates assessment and selection. The following data is recorded and weighted using the REACH matrix (2166P F1) and recorded on the “Student Profile” (2166P F6).
   • Academic Achievement - Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) or equivalent;
   • Cognitive Skills - Cognitive Aptitude Test or equivalent;
   • Creativity - Teacher and Paren Inventories
2. An Identification Committee consisting of the district REACH Coordinator, two teachers (including a Building Mentor), a school psychologist or counselor and a district administrator shall select students based on the “Criteria for Selecting Port Townsend REACH Highly Capable Students” described herein. In accordance with state guidelines, this committee may make selections based on their professional judgement in order to accommodate students with unusual exceptionalitities.

Criteria for Selecting Highly Capable Students

Timetable for Selection

1. The annual selection process focused on the addition of new fourth graders shall be completed by October 31. Students new to the district who have been previously identified for gifted/talented programs are automatically accepted. Other additions to the list may be made as appropriate on a case by case basis.

Tenure of Selected Students

1. Once in the program, a student remains in the program until he/she completes grade twelve.

Appeal Process

1. Parents/Guardians who wish to appeal their student’s failure to be selected may do so by appointment with the district REACH Coordinator. The selection process will be reviewed. If the reivew and/or new pertinent data indicate that the student does qualify, the student will be placed in the program.

ADOPTED: December 12, 1985
REVISED: March 24, 1997
REVISED: March 25, 2002
REVISED: July 8, 2003
REVISED: November 22, 2004