Application and Assessment Timeline for 2012 – 2013
For placement in the 2013 – 2014 program |
Applications Available |
October 1, 2012 |
Parent and Student Information Night
Redmond Middle School
10055 166th Avenue NE
Redmond, WA 98052 |
October 2, 2012
7 – 8:30 p.m. |
Applications Due – Send hard copies of any required documents to Quest office |
October 30, 2012
no later than 4 p.m.
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED |
Round I – Cog AT for student currently attending grades 5-7 |
Round I of Assessment: Cog AT
12/01/2012 – Grades 5 – 7 |
Round II – ITBS and Creativity for students meeting the Cog AT requirements in December. |
Round II of Assessment: ITBS
01/19/2013 – Grades 5 – 7 |
Notification of Placement Emailed |
Late Spring
|
* These dates are subject to change based on the numbers of students who are testing. Times are to be determined.
Note: Only one make-up day for each test will be scheduled for children who are ill or otherwise absent. |
Application screening procedures
Applicants must meet the screening criteria in order to be considered for Quest assessment. Not all Quest applicants will be eligible for assessment. The district reviews academic performance through the standards-based report card and standardized assessment data in order to determine eligibility.
Students must demonstrate that their current performance exceeds the grade level standards in:
- language arts
- math
- social studies
- science
The Quest office will have all report card data and test results for current Lake Washington School District students. For applicants not enrolled in LWSD schools in 2011-2012, please supply a copy of the 2011-2012 year end report card.
Private school students
Academic performance on the student’s most recent report card is reviewed along with standardized testing results. In addition to the online application, applicants will need to complete the Private School Supplement. This form, which explains to the private school the expectations for performance in literacy, social studies, and science, must be included with the application. Proof of residence in the Lake Washington School District must also be provided. Hard copies of these documents and forms should be sent to the Quest office.
Home school students
Academic performance through student work in literacy, social studies, and science is reviewed. Applicants will need to complete the home school supplement. This form is available online. Proof of residence in the Lake Washington School District must also be provided.
Assessment process
Middle school applicants who meet the screening criteria are scheduled for Quest assessment. There are two rounds of assessment:
- Round I: Cognitive Ability Assessment
- The Cognitive Abilities Test Cog AT one grade level above the student’s current grade level.
- Round II: Academic Achievement Assessment (for applicants who met Round 1 requirements)
- The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), one grade level above the student’s current level.
- Classroom teacher evaluation of creativity using the Renzulli Scales for the Behavioral Characteristics for Superior Students.
Lottery and placement process
Space is limited at every site, and not all students meeting the assessment criteria may actually be placed in the Quest program. Placements are made on a space available basis at the site that serves your home address. In the event that space is not available, a waiting list is created. Students on the waiting list are rank-ordered, based on their test results at the time of their identification.
Students for each site are placed in rank order, using the Cog AT standard age score and then the ITBS achievement scores. Should there not be enough room to place all students who have the same rank order, a random number lottery will be used to determine who is placed and also the order of the wait lists. If a student declines an offer for placement or moves out of the district, that place is offered to the next student on the rank-ordered list.
Once the wait list is established, it is not re-ordered when students leave the district and return or when new students transfer into the district. Returning and transfer students are placed at the end of the wait list, regardless of score, after students who are already on the rank-ordered list.
Appeals process
Appeals for reconsideration of students who have not met the screening, or assessment criteria are reviewed by an appeals review team after application screening, after Round I for Cog AT appeals and after Round II for Iowa Test appeals. Specific deadlines for appeals will be provided by the Quest office. Appeals of assessment results must be based upon one of the following:
- a condition or circumstance believed to have caused a misinterpretation of the testing results
- an inequitable application of the identification procedures
All appeals must be submitted in writing and include reasons to support that either situation has occurred. Each appeal is reviewed by a team including the Quest psychologist and the Director of Accelerated Programs. The final decision of the appeals review team is reported in a letter to the parents and may not be appealed.