Highly Capable
Wilbur School District Highly Capable Program
Annual Notification Announcement
WAC 392-170-042
As part of Wilbur School District's commitment to student learning, we offer opportunities for academic enrichment through the K-12 Highly Capable Program.
Highly capable students perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences, or environments. Learning characteristics include:
1. The capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations
2. The 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. The ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength
5. The capacity for intense concentration and focus
A teacher, parent/guardian, student or community member who has knowledge of the student's abilities may refer a student for entry into Wilbur's Highly Capable Program. Referral forms are available for the 2024/2025 school year on the Wilbur School District website or in the elementary and high school offices. You may also discuss whether the Highly Capable Program is right for your child during fall conferences. Referrals to be considered for the 2024-2025 school year are due by Monday, November 18th, 2024 and eligibility testing will be conducted November 25-27, 2024. Referrals may be submitted at any time during the academic year and parental permission will be obtained before conducting any assessments for eligibility.
This year, in addition to the referral process, we will also administer the CogAT 7 test as a universal screener for all students grades 3-6 in order to ensure all students have an equal opportunity for identification as highly capable.
Student eligibility for the Highly Capable Program is determined through the professional judgment of a multidisciplinary committee through the use of multiple criteria:
1. Academic achievement
2. Teacher and parent recommendations
3. Evidence of highly capable learning characteristics
4. Cognitive test results
The Highly Capable Committee will review nominations periodically throughout the year and families will be notified by mail of the screening results.
Parents wishing to appeal the committee's decision must submit an appeal form within 10 days of notification. The appeal must include a detailed written explanation of why the appeal is being submitted, as well as any new information relevant to the screening process.
Notice of the Highly Capable Program identification process is posted online, on the school website, in the school and district offices, and in the community newspaper. Please direct any questions to Teresa Chrisman, Title I/LAP/HCP Director for Wilbur School District, at 509-647-2221 or tchrisman@wcsd.wednet.edu
Click here for a Referral Form