paoli community school corporation statement of philosophy for high ability education each student...

Services for

High Ability Students

Paoli Community School Corporation Statement of Philosophy for High Ability Education

• Each student has a right to an education that best fits the student’s needs. Each student should receive the opportunity to develop abilities to the greatest extent and to have talents nurtured. Educational opportunities should prepare each student to utilize abilities and talents to benefit society.

• Paoli Community School Corporation accepts the responsibility to find these students who require curriculum and instructional modification beyond those typically offered by the school corporation, utilizing the State of Indiana’s recognized areas of high ability: general intellectual ability and specific academic aptitudes.

Paoli Community School Corporation also accepts the responsibility:• To provide an articulated, sequential and differentiated curriculum in all of the

basic disciplines in grades K-12;• To provide a challenging and stimulating environment for each student that will

promote excellence in recognized areas of high ability and • To provide opportunities to strengthen creativity, motivation, leadership, and

self-concept. In compliance with Indiana Code: 20-36-1Approved by Board of Trustees, Paoli School Corporation 2-14-2011

PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

Mission Statement: Paoli Schools recognize that some students perform at or show the potential to perform at an outstanding level of academic achievement compared with others of the same age, experience or environment. Paoli recognizes that these high ability learners are found in all socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic groups and that these learners require differentiated curriculum, instruction, and assessment in order to meet their unique cognitive and affective needs.

Definition: Paoli Schools defines a high ability student as one who performs at, or shows the potential for performing at, an outstanding level of accomplishment in core academic areas and/or creativity when compared to other students of the same age, experience or environments.

MISSION STATEMENT

The following goals have been developed for high ability students:1. High ability students will consistently use critical thinking processes in all disciplines at an advanced level, in order to develop problem solving skills in their pursuit of advanced content in the disciplines necessary for the development of original products.2. High ability students will pursue challenging, differentiated curriculum that will allow them to become self-directed, independent learners, and producers of original and innovative products.3. High ability students will display a high level of proficiency in oral and written communication and consistently demonstrate those skills through communicating to appropriate audiences.4. High ability students will accept their own uniqueness and will develop positive self-concepts as they creatively pursue their individual interests and needs.5. High ability students will accept divergent views and respect each individual’s uniqueness as they cooperatively and responsibly interact with society.

PROGRAM GOALS

The Paoli Community School Corporation uses a variety of services in meeting the needs of identified high ability students. The “cluster model” is one of the primary means of services to high ability students in grades K-8. Identified students are clustered in classrooms , most with a teacher endorsed in gifted education.

Differentiated instruction includes:Elementary: Language Arts and Math; and Resource Room (independent study)•Middle: advanced science 7/8 loop, Biology I to 8 for HS credit•Intro Algebra (pre-algebra) grade 7 focused on high ability needs; Algebra I in grade 8 for HS credit•Offer Spanish I to 8 for HS credit; adding 7 in 2012-13•Offer Am./Brit. Lit for HS credit to 8/9/10 in 2012-13

High School: Further differentiation of content is provided in the high school grades through course offerings-honors classes (English and Biology), Advance Placement (AP) classes (Chemistry, Calculus, English, and Music Theory), and dual enrollment.• Guidance counselors are available in each building to work with high ability students. School counselors may meet with small groups as well as individuals. Offer AP English Lit & Composition, grade 10/11•Offer AP Chemistry AP (grade 9,Bio I pre-req)10,11,12•Offer AP Spanish (IV) grade 12 (& 11 w/jr. high Sp I)•Offer AP Government, Politics •Offer AP Biology (tentative)•Offer US History, Dual College Credit, grade 12 &11•Continue AP Calculus

Guidance counselors are available in each building to work with high ability students. School counselors may meet with small groups as well as individuals

CURRICULUM OPTIONS

Students will be considered for identification by demonstrating “high levels of accomplishment in at least one domain when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment” on any one of the instruments used by the school corporation and identified in the following flow charts. Students considered for high ability services will be selected by a committee. Formal identification will take place in the spring of each year for students in grades K-8. This provides students eligibility for services during a multi-year span, and allows reconsideration on a regular basis.

Initial screening of students will be made with a series of qualitative measures, as well as an ability measure. If they meet the established criteria in any of the screening tools, they will be further examined with an identification tool. The norm-reference measure of achievement will be used as the identification tool. · Algebra – Middle school students showing high aptitude and a readiness for algebra in the middle school will be given the Algebra Prognosis test for placement in middle school Algebra classes. Parent Nominations – Parents may nominate their child for high ability services in grades K-7. Self nominations are accepted from grades 8-11. The nomination form is available through the school office and on the school website.

IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES

• This process will be implemented during a student’s current grade level

for placement in next year’s programming

Appeals/Exit Policy On File

FLOW CHARTS FOR IDENTIFICATION

PROCESS BY GRADE LEVEL

Kindergarten students…

Screening Pool

Determined by high ability committee to

merit continued monitoring


be identified

KOI – High score of 2 or more activities out of 4

Teacher Nomination: KOI Checklist

Parent Nomination

Cognitive score of 96th percentile and aboveVerbal: LA Quantitative: Math

Both: Intellectual

Cognitive score of 89-95th percentileQuantitative + 96th or higher nonverbal :

Math

I-Read-(score of 96th percentile and above)

High Ability

Cognitive score of 89-95th percentileVerbal: Quantitative: Non Verbal

(Cognitive score used for id in grades K-1)

•This process will be implemented during a student’s current grade level for placement in next year’s programming

First Grade Students…

Screening Pool




be identified

High Ability

Parent Nomination

Teacher Nomination

Terra NovaAchievement test

96th percentile and aboveLanguage/Math

(Cognitive score from K will be reviewed)


Any Achievement Language, Math and/or

Science 89 to 95th percentile

Work or product samples Teacher Checklist

Second Grade Students…

Screening Pool

Parent Nomination

Cognitive 96th percentile and aboveVerbal: LA Quantitative: Math

Both: Intellectual

Cognitive score of 89th-95th percentile Quantitative +96th or higher

nonverbal : Math

Acuity Scores: Tier 4Grade 2

Determined by high ability

committee to be identified

Terra NovaFrom Grade 1

96th percentile and aboveLanguage/Math

High Ability



Math Prompt

Language Arts Prompt

Teacher NominationRenzulli Checklist


Grades 3-5 Students…

Screening Pool




be identified

High Ability

Math Prompt

Language Arts Prompt

Teacher NominationRenzulli Checklist

Math and/or Language I-STEP Pass Plus +

Teacher Recommendation

Parent Recommendation


Sixth Grade Students…

Math and/or Language, Science I-

STEP Pass Plus + (gr 5, 6)


Parent Recommendation

Any Achievement Language, Math and/or

Science 89 to 95th percentile

Language and/or Science Terra Nova 96th percentile

or higher

Math: Orleans-Hanna 96th percentile or

higher

Teacher ChecklistWork or product samples

Screening Pool



Determined by high ability committee to be

identified

High Ability


8th-11th Grade Students…

Screening Pool

Determined by high ability committee to merit

continued monitoring

Determined by high ability committee to be

identified

High AbilityMath and/or

Language I-step Pass + or ECA ?


Self Nomination

PSAT/AP Potential


Consider K-12 Identification Committee :(to facilitate communication and articulation between

buildings, programs)

K-5 Committee: 6-8 Committee: 9-12 Committee: Coordinator Coordinator CoordinatorBuilding Administrator Building Administrator Building AdministratorPrimary Teachers Dept. Chairs Dept. ChairsIntermediate Teachers CounselorCounselor

Appeals/Exit Policy On File

COMMITTEES/PERSONNEL…

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