Highly Capable Services (WAC 392-170-055, 70, 75, 76, 78, 80) are designed for students who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences, or environments.  Successful candidates are often independent learners who thrive on progressively challenging opportunities and utilize advanced problem-solving in-depth study and presentation of curriculum matched to their demonstrated skills and capabilities.

 

Students in Highly Capable Services shall receive appropriate curriculum and instruction to meet their academic needs. Should your child be qualified for HiCap services at Colfax School District 300, your child must reside within Colfax School District 300.

 

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.

 

 

The Colfax School District uses a three-step procedure to identify and serve its Highly Capable students.

 

 

 

 

 

Students new to the Colfax School District who have been identified as Highly Capable and received Highly Capable services by another school district in the prior school year may request placement in the Highly Capable Program.  Students who have not been identified or did not receive Highly Capable services in the prior school year must follow all of the nomination and identification steps.  

 

 

Any community member who knows a child may refer the child to participate in the identification process.  To refer a child, an individual must complete a Colfax School District referral form (see attached referral form below). However, a child's parents or guardians must allow their child to participate in the testing in Step 2 (Identification).

 

Screening of all students is completed yearly by the end of October.  The district utilizes MAPs assessments, student grades, Smarter Balance Assessments, WaKids, and a yearly CogAt screener for all 2nd grade students, 6th grade students, and new to the district students.  This assessment is provided in the spring of each year.  Dates and information will be sent home in the spring to those being assessed.     

 

Once a student has been referred for assessment into the Highly Capable Program and parent/guardian consent has been provided, the student may be evaluated utilizing the Woodcock-Johnson IV Cognitive and Academic Achievement Assessments and complete a Record Review.  From there we will have the Creative Assessment (Renzulii scales) completed by one or more of your child's teachers who know your child well.  At that point, the Highly Capable Committee will determine eligibility and results will be mailed within ten (10) school days after completion of the HCP evaluation/assessment/committee process.

 

Students who qualify for the Highly Capable program and also qualify for either special education services or a 504 plan are often referred to as twice-exceptional students.  Additional data available for students with IEPs may be used in the identification process when relevant to determine a need for highly capable program services.  

 

The Multidisciplinary Selection Committee reviews all data for each student referred and determines if the preponderance of evidence shows the need for accelerated learning and enhanced instruction.  

 

Letters are mailed to the parents of students who participated in Step 2 (Identification) indicating whether or not the student has been identified as eligible for services through the Highly Capable Program.  Families will be asked to provide consent for their student to enter the Colfax School District Highly Capable Program.  All students identified as Highly Capable will be provided educational opportunities that take into account their particular needs and qualifying areas.  Individualized plans will be developed in conjunction with parents/guardians.

 

 

You do have an option to appeal the decision if your student did not qualify for Highly Capable Services.  The appeal process is strictly defined.  Parents or guardians may appeal the decision of the Gifted Identification and Placement Committee when there is additional, pertinent information. An appeal form may be obtained from the Colfax School District office. All appeal requests must be submitted to the Highly Capable Program Director by the deadline provided within the letter communicating the decision of the Gifted Identification and Placement Committee. The parents or guardians will be notified by letter of the director’s receipt of the appeal. The Highly Capable Committee will review the appeal and parents will be notified by letter of the Highly Capable Committee's decision. 

 

At the initial meeting of the appeals committee, all data collected including additional, pertinent information submitted in the appeal, are reviewed. The committee will decide if additional assessment data are needed. Any additional assessments must be initiated by the committee and administered by Colfax School District 300. Assessments not conducted by Colfax School District 300 will not be considered by the committee.

 

The committee's decision may include:

• Upholding the original decision of the Identification and Placement Committee;
• Reversing the decision of the Identification and Placement Committee; or
• Gathering additional or updated data.

The parents or guardians will be informed of the appeals committee’s decision by letter. 

 

The appeal decision of the Highly Capable Committee is final.