In Washington State, WAC 392-170-035, Highly capable students are defined as "....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 and specific academic abilities within a specific domain. These students are present not only in the general populace, but are present within all protected classes and racial/ethnic groups. 

Students who are highly capable may possess, but are not limited to, these learning characteristics:

1. Capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations;

2. Capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers;

3. Creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts;

4. Ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength; and

5. Capacity for intense concentration and/or focus.

Referral
A student may be referred for highly capable services by parents/guardians, educators, community members, other students or through district screening processes that review academic data. A referral is to provide more information about a student’s strengths, not a request for testing.

Screening and Assessment

All students in grades 1-7 will be universally screened through a comprehensive review of current and historical student educational record data. The purpose of universal screening is to include students who traditionally are not referred for highly capable services.

Highline Public Schools considers at least two student data points during universal screening, which may include previously administered standardized, classroom-based, performance, cognitive, or achievement assessments.

Highline Public Schools recognizes that intelligence does not always present itself in traditional ways in early grades, especially for students for whom English may not be a first language and those without access to early learning experiences.

“To the extent practicable, screening and assessments must be given in the native language of the student. If native language screening and assessments are not available, a nonverbal screening and assessment must be used.” (RCW 28A.300.770)

Highline Public Schools will administer a nonverbal cognitive screener once in or before second grade, and again in or before sixth grade as an additional data measure to determine whether a student is in need of highly capable services.

Parents/guardians may opt their student out of the highly capable screener by completing the Highly Capable Opt-Out form for identification and services, which is provided to every parent/guardian through district communication about the highly capable identification process.

Identification
To eliminate disparities in highly capable identification, Highline Public Schools will work toward a goal of identifying eligible students in accordance with RCW 28A.185.030 relating to advancing equity in the identification for services.

Highline Public Schools will prioritize equitable identification of low-income students for participating in highly capable services. RCW 28A.185.020

The Multidisciplinary Placement Committee (MDC) is responsible for identification of students for services. WAC 392-170-070

The MDC includes trained educators and other professional staff including:

• A special teacher is a teacher who has training, experience, advanced skills, and knowledge in the education of Highly Capable students, or, if unavailable, a classroom teacher;  WAC 392-170-038
• A psychologist or other qualified practitioner with the training to interpret achievement test results;
• A certificated coordinator/administrator with responsibility for the supervision of the district's program for Highly Capable students; and
• Such additional professionals, if any, that the Highly Capable Learning department deems desirable.

The Multidisciplinary Placement Committee reviews multiple data sources to identify students needing highly capable services. The data sources, when available, may include, but are not limited to:

• Current academic year data:
  • Highly capable screener from the current academic year;
  • Fall and Winter district assessments from the current academic year;
  • Most recent state testing
  • Demonstrated performance in the classroom as assessed by educators;
  • Grade reports;
  • Strengths, talents, and interests reported by educators and
  • parents/guardians;
     
• Data listed above from the previous academic year;
   
• Additional data:
  • Language acquisition data for students receiving Multilingual Services;
  • Additional assessments in a student’s educational records that were used as a part of a Highline Public Schools’ Special Education evaluation, which resulted in a student receiving an individualized education program.

Parents/guardians of students identified for highly capable services will be informed and asked to provide consent prior to starting services.

A parent/guardian may file an appeal if their student is found to be ineligible for highly capable services. A formal appeal should be submitted using the online appeal form available on the highly capable webpage.  The Multidisciplinary Placement Committee will review all appeals and communicate the decision in writing to the family via email.

Placement

“The legislature finds that, for highly capable students, access to accelerated learning and enhanced instruction is access to a basic education.” RCW 28A.185.020

Highline Public Schools is committed to culturally responsive and inclusive practices. Highly capable services align with the mission that each of our students are unique in how they learn and by embracing learner variability as an asset that adds value to our classroom communities.

A student’s highly capable services will be provided in their neighborhood school. All newly identified 2nd through 5th grade students will receive services through an individualized Highly Capable Learning Plan (HCLP). All newly identified 6th through 8th grade students will have the opportunity for Earned Honors.  All students 2nd through 8th grade will be cluster grouped when available.  Once services have begun; identified students will be provided a continuum of services throughout their Highline Public Schools education.

As required by WAC 392-170-020, Highline Public Schools will develop an annual plan for the district’s highly capable services. The Annual Plan will be submitted to the School Board for approval through a Board Action Report and then submitted to OSPI.

The Annual Plan will contain the following per WAC 392-170-030:

1. A report of the number of K-12 students who are highly capable that the district expects to serve by grade level;
2. A description of the district's plan to identify students; consistent with RCW 28A.185.020, district practices for identifying the most highly capable students must prioritize equitable identification of low-income students;
3. A description of the highly capable program goals;
4. A description of the services the highly capable program will offer;
5. A description of the instructional program the highly capable program will provide;
6. A description of ongoing professional development for educators of students who are highly capable and general education staff;
7. A description of how the highly capable program will be evaluated that includes information on how the district's highly capable program goals and student achievement outcomes will be measured;
8. A fiscal report; and
9. Assurances signed by the school district's authorized representative that the district will comply with all applicable statutes and regulations.

As required by WAC 392-170-090, the district will submit an end of the year report to OSPI at the close of each fiscal year on OSPI-provided forms that include:

• Equitable Identification of low-income students
• Criteria for Identification
• Program Evaluation
• Program Administration and Operations
• Professional Learning

Kindergarten / 1st Grade Group Learning Plan

Identification for the K/1 Group Learning Plan is based on teacher observation and classroom assessments. Students in kindergarten and 1st grade who have shown attributes of an advanced learner will receive services in the student’s home classroom with teachers providing differentiated instruction targeting specific literacy and/or math goals. 

Identified students in kindergarten and 1st grade are eligible for the current school year only. The student will need to go through the identification process to be eligible for future services.

Grades 9 - 12

Students who have been identified for highly capable services in grades 2-8, remain qualified for highly capable services until graduation.  All students in grades 9-12 may participate in the programs available at their assigned high school or through the district lottery process.

Students are encouraged to consider their interests and future goals when selecting programs and courses in high school. Options available at our high school campuses include intentional course pathways in academic subjects leading to success in college-like coursework (AP, IB, College in the High School, Puget Sound Skills Center and Running Start). In addition, Highline offers choice programs including CHOICE Academy, Big Picture, Raisbeck Aviation High School, Maritime High School, Innovation Heights Academy and Highline Virtual Academy.

Highline School District 401
Adopted by the Superintendent: August 1985
Revised by the Superintendent: 3.15, 8.24