Explorer nomination period

Highly Capable Nomination Period scheduled for February 18 – March 21, 2014
Nomination packets with information for the 2014-2015 Highly Capable (Explorer) Program are currently available on the district website and will be available in all district schools by February 13, 2014 Parents will be able to contact their child’s teacher or school learning specialist/counselor for more information. Program information is also available on the district website: http://www.wwps.org/programs/explorers.

Walla Walla School District’s Highly Capable Program provides students of high academic and intellectual ability with designated time to explore concepts in greater depth. The goal of the Highly Capable Program is to encourage the development of higher level thinking skills. Students learn to become responsible for their own learning, to develop their creative thinking and critical reasoning power and to strive to reach their potential.

Students in kindergarten through second grade, identified as Highly Capable, will be served through the Response to Intervention (RtI) model in their home schools. The elementary principal or designee will work with classroom teachers to provide appropriate accelerated/enhanced learning opportunities. K-2 classroom/program options could include, but not be limited to: alternative activities, enrichment activities, flexible group learning, independent projects, advanced lessons, online or supplemental instruction.

For grades three through five, the Highly Capable (Explorer) Program consists of a pull-out program focused on Science and Mathematics. The pull-out program allows students to be grouped homogeneously by with other students identified for the program and to participate in enriched academic experiences at a rigorous pace.

The middle school Highly Capable (Explorer) Program focuses on the subject areas of English, Language Arts and Social Studies. This middle school program is incorporated into the school day through separate self-contained Explorer Program classrooms. Students are involved in inquiry- based lessons, group problem-solving settings, independent investigations, and group discussions. Middle school Explorer students have an opportunity to take different levels of mathematics classes, based on their ability and test scores. This same opportunity is extended to all students in grades six through eight at both middle schools.

Students previously identified as Highly Capable and transitioning to ninth grade will meet with high school counselors (or principal’s designee) for the purpose of course selection and access to advanced instruction. Teachers of high school Highly Capable students will know who has been identified and will be provided with professional development and/or instructional suggestions through the high school RtI team. Services for high school students can include, but are not limited to, honors or Advanced Placement classes, Running Start, independent study or online classes.

The nomination deadline this year will be March 12, 2014. All nominated students will be screened using norm-referenced standardized tests and those who qualify for further testing will participate in cognitive abilities testing at their home schools. In all cases, parents will be notified of the results of the process, and a child not selected one year may be referred again in subsequent years.

For more information, please contact the Walla Walla School District Curriculum and Instruction office: 509-526-6735.