MCCSC

HIGH ABILITY IDENTIFICATION AND PROGRAMS

Throughout the MCCSC, students are provided with differentiated instruction and opportunities for acceleration.  These opportunities are not restricted to students who are formally identified as high ability.  Individual teachers and building principals work to develop the most appropriate educational experience possible for each child.

For students in grade four to eight who clearly demonstrate high academic and intellectual ability, the MCCSC offers the Accelerated Learning Program for Students or ALPS.

The Accelerated Learning Program for Students (ALPS) offers high ability fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students the opportunity to participate in academic activities and experiences that are uniquely designed to provide the challenge and rigor that they require.  ALPS students complete grade-level requirements as well as appropriate enrichment and acceleration activities in all areas of the curriculum.  ALPS students attend art, music, and physical education classes, and they have lunch and recess periods with their age-level peers.  They receive instruction in English/Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies in self-contained ALPS classes.  In all classes, ALPS students routinely engage in thematic reading and writing activities, are required to use critical thinking skills, and are encouraged to develop as independent, self-directed learners. 

The MCCSC elementary school Accelerated Learning Program for Students (ALPS) is provided in self-contained classes at University Elementary School.  Transportation is provided.

The challenges of the ALPS program require both students and their families to make a commitment of time and energy.  Students and families who elect to participate in the program agree to work together to ensure that the student:

·  Produces work of high quality and submitted on time

·  Actively and meaningfully participates in class

·  Maintains an average grade of B or higher

·  Participates for a full academic year in the assigned placement

In addition to the self-contained ALPS classes, individual elementary schools may offer program

options for identified high ability students. These options may include grade level high ability

cluster groups, grade skipping, flexible ability grouping for math and language arts, and inquiry

based instruction.

Early in each academic year, the In View cognitive abilities assessment is administered to all third grade students in the MCCSC.  Using the results of this test and other school records, students having potential of benefiting from participation in the ALPS program are identified.  Students whose recent NWEA  reading  achievement subtest score is at or above the 92 percentile and cognitive ability (CSI)  is at or above 120 are part of the initial identification pool and qualify them for possible placement in the program. Letters are sent to students qualifying for the initial identification pool with information about applying for the ALPS program. Any student may apply for placement in the ALPS program; families interested in this opportunity should speak with their child.s teachers or principal.  Families may also contact the Office of High Ability Education.

A Students. potential to benefit from participation in the ALPS program is assessed through a variety of measures which are collected in individual application portfolios.  Portfolios are stored by the Office of High Ability Education for each student applicant.  In addition to standardized test scores, the Coordinator of High Ability Education solicits the following to be included in the student.s portfolio:

Applicant provides:

§   A completed Parent Referral Form;

§   One example of the student.s written work that he or she selects.

School provides:

§   Student writing sample from district wide third grade writing prompt (in place of ISTEP writing prompt and student record);

§   Teacher Referral Form from the student.s third grade teacher(s);

§   Copies of report cards for first semester of third grade;

§   NWEA Map Report

A timeline for the elementary ID process will include the deadline for submission of application materials.

Members of the Elementary Identification Committee review each student portfolio to identify students who are most likely to benefit from participation in the ALPS program in elementary school. Participation in the elementary ALPS program requires that a student be formally identified as high ability by the identification committee.  Members of the identification committee are experienced and licensed in gifted/talented education.  Historically, students placed in the ALPS self-contained classes have achievement test scores above the 96^th percentile in reading and have cognitive ability scores above 128.

Notification of placement decisions will be sent to parents and schools.

Elementary school students who are new to the MCCSC or those who did not apply, did not qualify, or opted not to accept an invitation to the ALPS program at the end of third grade can submit a portfolio for review by the Identification Committee during their fourth, fifth, and sixth grade years.  Alternative admission applications are considered by the Identification Committee in the week or two prior to the end of the current school year and/or the beginning of the next academic year.  Placement is offered based on the recommendations of the Identification Committee.

The Accelerated Learning Program for Students (ALPS) offers high ability middle school students the opportunity to participate in an advanced block of classes (science, language arts, and humanities/social studies) in both grades seven and eight. All MCCSC middle schools offer self-contained ALPS sections and advanced math classes (algebra and geometry) for identified high ability students in grades seven and eight. Middle school students may qualify for placement in the ALPS block, in advanced math classes, or in both.  Students in these classes can expect an enriched and accelerated curriculum as well as assignments that are more rigorous.  Placement in advanced math classes is a separate identification process that takes place in March and April.  Middle school ALPS students enroll in additional regular classes to meet the curricular requirements of the State of Indiana.

Early in each academic year, the In View cognitive abilities assessment is administered to all sixth grade students in the MCCSC.  Using the results of this test and other educational records, students having potential of benefiting from participation in the ALPS program are identified.  Students whose recent NWEA  reading  achievement subtest score is at or above the 92 percentile and cognitive ability (CSI)  is at or above 120 are part of the initial identification pool and qualify them for possible placement in the program.  Letters are sent to students qualifying for the initial identification pool with information about applying for the ALPS program. Any student may apply for placement in the ALPS program; families interested in this opportunity should speak with their child.s teachers or principal.  Families may also contact the Office of High Ability Education.

The challenges of the ALPS program require both students and their families to make a commitment of time and energy.  Students and families who elect to participate in the program agree to work together to ensure that the student:

·  Produces work of high quality and submitted on time

·  Actively and meaningfully participates in class

·  Maintains an average grade of B or higher

·  Participates for a full academic year in the assigned placement

All sixth grade students who are eligible for and interested in participating in the ALPS program in middle school must submit materials that allow the Identification Committee to make determinations about middle school placement.

A Students. potential to benefit from participation in the ALPS program is assessed through a variety of measures which are collected in individual application portfolios.  Portfolios are stored by the Office of High Ability Education for each student applicant.  In addition to standardized test scores, the Coordinator of High Ability Education solicits the following to be included in the student.s portfolio:

Family Provides:

§   Completed Parent Referral Form;

§   One example of the student.s writing that he or she selects;

School Provides:

§   A copy of the student.s writing prompt from the ISTEP+ test and ISTEP Student Report; Student NWEA Map Report;

§   Teacher Referral Forms from the student.s sixth grade teacher(s);

§   Copies of report cards for first semester of grade six.

A timeline for the middle school ID process will include the deadline for submission of application materials.

Members of the Middle School Identification Committee review each student portfolio to identify students who are most likely to benefit from participation in the ALPS program in middle school. Participation in the middle school ALPS program requires that a student be formally identified as high ability by the identification committee.  Members of the identification committee are experienced and licensed in gifted/talented education.  Historically, students placed in the ALPS program have achievement test scores above the 96^th percentile in reading and have cognitive ability scores above 128.

Notification of placement decisions will be sent to parents and schools.

Middle school students who are new to the MCCSC or those who did not apply, did not qualify, or opted not to accept an invitation to the ALPS program at the end of sixth grade can, at the recommendation of their counselors and teachers, submit a portfolio for review by the Identification Committee for their seventh and eighth grade years.  Alternative admission applications are considered by the Identification Committee in the week or two prior to the end of the current school year and/or the beginning of the next academic year.  Placement is offered based on the recommendations of the Identification Committee.

·        Middle School Application Checklist and Timeline

·        Parent Referral Form

The middle school math placement process is a separate identification process that will take place in March and April.  All MCCSC middle schools offer algebra and geometry classes for identified high ability students. Middle school math teachers, sixth grade math teachers, and the Office of High Ability Education work together to make the appropriate math placement for incoming seventh grade students. Students in the middle school algebra and geometry classes may elect to have the grades from these courses placed on their high school transcript and be included in the calculation of the high school grade-point average.  Students will be given a form to complete the second week of class indicating their decision regarding high school credit for these courses. 

High ability classes are self-selected at the high school level and available to any student. Bloomington High School North and South offer honors level classes, Advanced Placement courses, and Advanced College Project courses in many content areas. The high schools also provide release time for students to attend classes on the Indiana University and Ivy Tech campuses. High school students who have been previously identified as high ability are eligible to participate in a range of accelerated or alternative study opportunities.  Students who are interested in any of these options should contact their high school counselor. 

A student may self-nominate or a parent or teacher may nominate a student for high ability identification.  For information about high ability identification, contact the guidance department or a building administrator. 

For High Ability Education information contact the Office of High Ability Education at (812) 330-7700, ext. 51029; kwilliam@mccsc.edu.