This program provides students enrichment in reading and/or math via 30 minute weekly small group sessions. General education teachers also receive support to enhance in-class differentiation for highly capable and high ability students.

During the first half of the 2020-21 school year, highly capable kindergarten students will be identified in reading and/or math. Services will begin sometime during the second half of the year. Services will take place in the student’s neighborhood school during the regular school day.

A student who participates in the K5HC program in kindergarten will continue services through fifth grade unless the student qualifies for another highly capable program, such as Pull-out Quest or Full-time Quest.

Visit Washington Administrative Code Chapter 392-170 and Revised Code of Washington Chapter 28A.185 for information on Washington state regulations for highly capable services.

Referral Process

Students are referred for Highly Capable services by parents, staff or community members by filling out an application form. To nominate your child, parents must apply for their student to be considered for highly capable services. To apply, fill out the online application form. Please contact the Accelerated Programs office at 425-936-1238 if you need a paper copy of the application or if you need an application in a language other than English.

Please note: Students must reside in the LWSD boundaries to apply for and participate in Highly Capable programs.

Scroll to the top of this page to find the Highly Capable Programs application form during the application window.

Screening Process

• Kindergarten students are screened using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Screening Form to determine if further evaluations are needed. The typical score range to qualify for further assessment is Composite SAS 132-160 (98-99 Age Percentile Rank) on the CogAT. The CogAT provides a measure of a student’s verbal, quantitative and nonverbal learned reasoning abilities.
• Private testing results are not accepted.

Assessment Process

The district uses multiple objective criteria to identify students who are among the most highly capable:

Evidence of need for highly capable services is determined by a Multidisciplinary Selection Committee. Members of the committee include, at a minimum, a school psychologist, a teacher and the Director of Accelerated Programs. All decisions are based on the body of evidence to provide a clear picture of each student’s ability and to determine whether the data indicate a need for services beyond the scope of the general education classroom. No weights are assigned to data points. Private testing results are not accepted.

Placement

Kindergarten students who meet the eligibility criteria will be offered K5HC services.

• Parents must complete and return the K5HC Permission for Placement form before services may begin.
• The anticipated start date for services is February 2021.
• A student who participates in the K5HC program in kindergarten will continue services through fifth grade unless the student qualifies for and accepts placement in another highly capable program such as Pull-out Quest or Full-time Quest.
• Services are provided in the student’s LWSD home school.

Appeals Process

Highly Capable assessment criteria are applied equitably to all applicants. Appeals for reconsideration of students who have not met the assessment criteria are reviewed by the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee after notification of screening results and after notification of the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee placement decision.

• Appeals must be submitted to the Accelerated Programs Office in writing within 10 calendar days of notification of results using the online LWSD Highly Capable Program Appeal Form.
• If you do not have access to a computer, please contact the Accelerated Programs office at 425-936-1238 or email quest@lwsd.org.
• Appeals must be based upon a specific criteria related to the screening/testing conditions, or to a misapplication or miscalculation of the scores. The decision of the appeal review team is final.

Students who were enrolled in a highly capable or gifted program in their previous school may apply to receive Kindergarten-5th Grade Highly Capable (K-5HC) services when they transfer into LWSD. Transfer students are not automatically enrolled in the Highly Capable programs. Highly capable services are not an entitlement in Washington, as they are in some states.

Transfer application process for students in kindergarten

• Register your student at your neighborhood LWSD school
• Complete and submit a transfer form
• Submit proof of participation in a highly capable or gifted program (from school last attended) or submit proof of acceptance into a highly capable or gifted program within the last six months
• Submit standardized achievement test results with national or international norms
• Submit standardized ability test results with national or international norms
• Submit Residency Verification Form with two documents listed on the Residency Checklist.
• Meet the K-5HC screening and assessment eligibility criteria for admittance into the program

Notes:

• Private testing outside of the student’s school district-sanctioned testing cannot be used to substitute for district testing
• Letters of recommendation are not considered in the review
• Transfer applications must be complete with all documentation submitted

Notification/placement process for kindergarten students

The Accelerated Programs Office will notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student’s eligibility status after reviewing the applicant’s file. If the student is not eligible, he/she can apply for and go through the district identification process during the next open application period.

LWSD Highly Capable Programs Change of Service Request

Parents of students participating in LWSD highly capable services may opt to withdraw from highly capable services at any time by submitting the Change of Service Request to the Accelerated Programs Office. Students will remain identified as highly capable. Students attending a LWSD school may receive differentiated instruction in their LWSD classroom. Students opting out of Full-time Quest may request participation in either Pull-out Quest or K-5HC services. Students opting out of Pull-out Quest may request participation in K-5HC services.

If parents wish to have their student return to highly capable services, they may submit a Change of Service Request. Students who have been away from highly capable services for less than 12 calendar months may resume the same level of highly capable services. For an absence of longer than 12 calendar months, parents may submit a written request to resume highly capable services and attach report card grades and evidence that the student has participated in accelerated learning; the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee will consider the request.

Parents of newly identified highly capable students may opt to decline services. Students will remain identified as highly capable. Students attending a LWSD school may receive differentiated instruction in their LWSD classroom. After declining highly capable services, parents who wish to begin previously offered services may complete a Change of Service Request. Students wishing to begin services within 12 calendar months of the original start date will be scheduled for the same level of service. Requests for highly capable services starting more than 12 calendar months after the original start date must be reviewed by the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee; submit a Change of Service Request along with report card data and documentation showing accelerated learning for review.

NOTES:

1. Students must reside in LWSD boundaries to participate in LWSD highly capable services.
2. School assignment and classroom placement are subject to change.
3. Change of Service Requests (with any supplemental documentation) should be emailed to quest@lwsd.org.

Please contact the Accelerated Programs Office by email at quest@lwsd.org or by phone at 425-936-1238 for more information.