Pioneer Regional School Corporation
High Ability Program Plan
High Ability Coordinator:
Emily Harvey
574-643-2255
Philosophy
The mission of the Pioneer Regional School Corporation high ability program is to assist and encourage students who demonstrate exceptional learning ability in developing their talents to the fullest measure by providing academic programming that meets their unique needs.
Pioneer Regional School Corporation will:
• Establish and maintain an Identification Committee to identify students of high ability fairly and equitably in grades K-12.
• Develop and maintain academic programming that serves the academic, social, and emotional needs of identified high ability students.
• Provide support and professional development of staff members involved in the high ability program.
• Establish and maintain a Broad-Based Planning Committee to oversee, administer, and evaluate the high ability program.
Definition
Per Indiana Code (20-36-1-3) – “High Ability Student” means a student who:
• Performs at or shows the potential for performing at an outstanding level of accomplishment in at
least one domain when compared with students of the same age, experience, or environment.
• Is characterized by exceptional gifts, talents, motivation, or interests.
Program Description
Pioneer Regional School Corporation is committed to providing a well-designed academic curriculum for identified high ability students. Additionally, the role of well-prepared teachers is essential to providing students with experiences that will help maximize their potential. The curriculum for high ability students will be aligned with both the specific state standards by grade level, as well as the general standards for high ability students. A differentiated curriculum for high ability students may include adjusting the content, pace, sequence, or depth of knowledge and skill sets and will be based on individual student needs. The high ability coordinator will assist the staff in adjusting the curriculum. All staff members who provide services to high ability students will have the opportunity to be involved in professional development that is based on research and best practice. This may include continuing education, collaboration with high ability specialists, the pursuit of high ability licensure, workshops, and through staff meetings. A Broad-Based Planning Committee (BBPC) has been established; comprised of the high ability coordinator, and at least one representative from the administration, teachers, students and parents. It is the responsibility of the BBPC to determine the service provisions offered by PioneerRegional School Corporation and will determine changes to be made annually. The high ability coordinator will oversee the implementation of those services.
Elementary high ability students will be provided with appropriate instruction from the following possible service options:
• Project Based Learning (PBL)
• STEM Activities
• Early entrance to kindergarten – These guidelines shall include an appeal procedure for early entrance to kindergarten that is in accordance with any guidelines promulgated by the State Department of Education
• Makers’ Space
• Flexible grade/subject placement
• Differentiated instruction in the regular classroom
• Independent study
Jr./Sr. High high ability students will be provided appropriate instruction from the following possible service options:
• Advance placement courses
• Dual enrollment courses
• Distance education courses
• Early graduation
• Internships, mentorships
• Independent study
All students who are receiving services will be monitored for progress and achievement by the identification committee. Grade reports and comments will be made available to the committee at the end of each grading period. Internal evaluation of all program components will occur yearly to assure that the High Ability program at Pioneer School Corporation is consistent with the program’s philosophy, goals, and standards.
Identification
An identification committee consisting of the high ability coordinator and members of the BBPC will meet as needed to review all relevant student data and determine eligibility for services. Achievement and ability tests will be administered and scored by certified staff. Per Indiana Code 20-36-2-2 - Assessments used to identify students for high ability programming must be multifaceted to ensure that students not identified by traditional assessments because of economic disadvantage, cultural background, underachievement, or disabilities may be included.
Assessments
The following assessments are currently or potentially available for use in the identification process:
• Achievement assessments:
• ILEARN pilot checkpoints• ILEARN
• IREAD
• Quick Phonics Screener (Grades K-2)
• IXL
• Northwest Evaluation Association Measure of Academic Performance (NWEA)
• DIBELS (Grades K-2)
• Ability (Intelligence) assessments:
• CogAT Cognitive Ability Test (K, 2nd grade, 5th grade)
• Alternative/Additional assessments (qualitative):
• SIGS Scales for Identifying Gifted Students
Identification Process
• All Pioneer students are considered for identification
• All Pioneer students in kindergarten, second grade and fifth grade will be screened for high ability
placement for the next school year using the norm-referenced measure of cognitive ability test, CogAT Staff members will receive support and training in the characteristics of high ability students to assist them in the nomination process.
Grades 1-6
Students will be identified in the Spring of kindergarten using the procedure listed below for high ability identification in 1st grade. Students are reevaluated using the procedure listed below in the spring of 2nd grade year to be identified as high ability and placed in the high ability classroom in 3rd grade. Students are then reevaluated using the procedure listed below in the spring of 5th grade to be identified as high ability and placed in the high ability classroom in 6th grade. To continue in the high ability program in 2nd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade students will be reevaluated using spring IXL scores, ILEARN scores, IREAD scores as well as the progress in the program. Procedure of identification of high ability:
• Students scoring in the 96-99 percentile on either the Verbal section of CogAT in the winter or on the reading/language sections of IXL in the spring of K, 2nd grade, and 5th grade will be identified as high ability for the upcoming school year in language arts.
• Students scoring in the 96-99 percentile on the Quantitative and Composite Score of Quantitative and Nonverbal sections of CogAT in the winter or on the math section of IXL in the spring of K, 2nd grade, and 5th grade will be identified as high ability for the upcoming school year in mathematics.
• Students scoring in the 96-99 percentile on both the language arts and mathematics criteria above (CogAT or spring IXL) will be identified as having general intellect.
• Students scoring in the 94-95 percentile on either the CogAT in the winter or on IXL in the spring will have the winter IXL scores and Scales for Identifying Gifted Students (SIGS) percentile rank reviewed. If either winter IXL scores or SIGS percentile rank fall within the 96-99 percentile, the student will be identified as high ability in language arts, mathematics or general intellect for the upcoming school year. Procedure of identification of high ability for kindergarten students:
• Students scoring in the 96-99 percentile on the Verbal section of CogAT in the winter of kindergarten will be identified as high ability for the remainder of the kindergarten year as well as the upcoming school year in language arts.
• Students scoring in the 96-99 percentile on the Quantitative and Composite Score of Quantitative and Nonverbal sections in the winter of kindergarten will be identified as high ability for the remainder of the kindergarten year as well as the upcoming school year in mathematics.
• Students scoring in the 96-99 percentile on the COGAT in the above sections will be identified as general intellect. Previous placement in a high ability program from former school would deem a student eligible for services. Assessment records will be kept on file by the high ability coordinator throughout a student’s school years.
Notification
Parents of elementary students who are identified in the spring of kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 5th grade for high ability services will be notified either by a letter sent home with the child or by mail by the end of June. Teachers will be notified of identified high ability students before school starts for grades 1-6. Parents may opt out of HA services.
Appeal
An appeal of the committee’s decision can be requested in writing by parents or teachers. An alternative individual ability assessment (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, or other) will be administered by a high ability staff member. A student who scores comparably to the ability criteria above will be deemed eligible for services.
Exit Procedure
Students who were previously identified in Kindergarten, Second or Fifth grade, who are no longer benefiting from services will be considered for dismissal from the high ability program following the procedure below:
• Initial meeting will be held with the high ability teacher, coordinator and parents/guardian.
• The student’s progress to date as well as IXL, ILEARN and/or IREAD scores and concerns over performance will be discussed.
• A student’s progress will be monitored for one grading period or parents can opt out of HA services immediately.
• If monitoring, at the end of the grading period, a second meeting will be held where the child’s progress will be evaluated, and continuation in the program or dismissal from the program will be determined.
• If dismissal from the program is determined the parent/guardian will sign permission on the exit form.
The high ability coordinator will update student records appropriately.
Resources
High Ability English Language Arts Units - Link to the DOE Moodle page that contains the High Ability English Language Arts Units the high ability teachers may use for reading. Once you create an account and log in to Moodle you will see a list of course categories. Click on the High Ability Education link. You will then see the High Ability English Language Arts Units and the High Ability ELA Phase II Units.