Skip to main content

Pullman Public Schools

#PROUD2bePSD!

Highly Capable Program

Highly Capable Program

Highly capable students demonstrate—or show strong potential to demonstrate—exceptional performance well beyond what’s typical for their age, experience, or learning environment. Their strengths may appear through advanced thinking, high achievement in specific academic areas, and/or notable creativity and innovation within a particular field.

 

Program Services

Designed to meet the learning needs and challenge students who have advanced thinking and academic abilities.

Qualifying K-8 students are cluster grouped together and receive differentiated instruction from a classroom teacher trained to meet their needs.

Qualifying 9-12 students may select: Honors Option, Advanced Placement Courses, College in High School, or Running Start as available or approved.

A young boy wearing safety glasses smiles while working on a robotics project.

Highly Capable Program Placement for 2026-2027

The referral window for the 2026-2027 school year is March 10-20, 2026.

Referral forms to receive highly capable services during the 2026-2027 school year will be accepted March 10-20. Parents/guardians, teachers, students, and anyone else with direct knowledge of a student’s abilities may refer a student for highly capable services.

In addition to referrals, universal screener results will also be considered. Our district utilizes the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment in grades K – 8 as a universal screener.

If you need a form in another language, please contact the Instructional Programs office at (509)332-3144 or highlycapable@psd267.org.

If a student has already qualified for Highly Capable services in the past, there is no need to refer. Services continue from year to year. 

About the Highly Capable Program

Pullman School District strives to ensure learning while challenging and supporting each student to achieve their full potential. The Highly Capable Program focuses on meeting this mission by supporting students within the Highly Capable Program through accelerated learning and enhanced instruction tailored to the unique needs of our gifted and talented students. Please explore the links below to learn about our program model, specific services at each level, program contact information, parent resources and referral information. 

  • Pullman School District strives to ensure learning while challenging and supporting each student to achieve their full potential. The Highly Capable Program focuses on meeting this mission by supporting students within the Highly Capable Program through accelerated learning and enhanced instruction tailored to the unique needs of our gifted and talented students.

  • TAKE ACTION

    • We are accountable through measurable goals
    • We commit to constructive feedback

     

    Highly Capable Program

    • Annual teacher training based on data driven goals and measurable outcomes
    • Align HCP extensions with district PLC work in essential standards
    • Annual feedback surveys for students, parents, and teachers

     

    CULTIVATE TRUST

    • We communicate transparently
    • We assure fiscal responsibility now and for the future

     

    Highly Capable Program

    • Quarterly parent newsletters
    • Parent resource website
    • Parent information nights
    • Referral information via ParentSquare and teacher communication
    • Parent letters regarding program placement 
    • TOSA availability for parent communication and support

     

    SHARED DECISIONS

    Data and feedback inform decisions about best practicies, professional development, and student support programs

     

    Highly Capable Program

    • Student intervention when goals are not met
    • Student data analysis sent to princiapls of LMS and PHS before transition years (5-6, 8-9)
    • Average HCP student growth data analyzed for Professional Development direction
    • Parent survey for parent night/newsletter topics (annually)
    • Open communication via email/phone with teachers and parents

     

    MUTUAL RESPECT

    Inclusive culture in which we value each individual and celebrate our community’s diversity

     

    Highly Capable Program

    • Individual student advocacy
    • Communication with parents and students regarding goals and interests
    • Opportunities to build a sesse of community among program students and families

     

    BUILD TOGETHER

    • We honor our students’ futures
    • We cultivate authentic, collaborative relationships based on shared purpose

     

    Highly Capable Program

    • TOSA availability for parent communication and support
    • Annual parent/teacher conference (goals, interest)
    • District collaborative website
    • District parent resource website

  • Our identification process includes multiple pathways to ensure equitable access for students who:

    • Qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch 
    • Receive McKinney-Vento services 
    • Receive Special Education services 
    • Are Multilingual Learners 

  • Referrals for the following year are accepted every year in March.

    • Any person with knowledge of the student’s abilities may submit a referral form.
    • A multi-disciplinary committee evaluates data to determine which students qualify for cognitive testing.
    • Cognitive testing for identified students will be administered at school during regular hours.
    • Results and placement decisions will be communicated to families.

    • Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Reading & Math
    • Smarter Balance Assessment (SBA)
    • WaKids Kindergarten Assessment
    • WIDA ACCESS for multilingual learners
    • Standardized assessments included in a student’s Individual Education Evaluation (IEP)

  • Grades K-8

    Qualifying K-8 students are cluster grouped together and receive differentiated instruction from a classroom teacher trained to meet their needs.

     

    Grades 9-12

    Identified students may select: Honors Option, Advanced Placement courses, College in High School, or Running Start as available or approved.

  • Franklin Elementary

    850 SE Klemgard Street

    (509) 334-5641

    Tarrin Weber, tweber@psd267.org

     

    Jefferson Elementary

    1150 NW Bryant Street

    (509) 332-2617

    Linda Baldeck, lbaldeck@psd267.org

     

    Kamiak Elementary

    1400 NW Terre View Dr

    (509) 336-7205

    Andrea Reinhart, areinhart@psd267.org

     

    Sunnyside Elementary

    425 SW Shirley Street

    (509) 334-1800

    Katie Vandemark, kvandemark@psd267.org

     

    Lincoln Middle School

    315 SE Crestview Street

    (509) 334-3411

    Gene Baldeck, ebaldeck@psd267.org

    Alison Kimball, akimball@psd267.org

     

    Pullman High School

    510 NW Greyhound Way

    (509) 332-1551

    Deanna Kile, dkile@psd267.org

    Tiffany Deccio, tdeccio@psd267.org

Highly Capable Program Advisory Committee

Are you interested in serving as a parent representative on the Highly Capable Program Advisory Committee for Pullman Public Schools? The committee aides in developing, monitoring, implementing, and evaluating the district's Highly Capable Program plan. The committee ensures compliance with state laws and administrative codes governing the Highly Capable Program, including equitable identification of low-income students, and makes recommendations, as needed, to the district Policy Committee and School Board regarding changes to the district policy and procedure. The committee meets 4x throughout the school year. If you are interested in joining the HCP Advisory Committee please contact the Instructional Programs office by phone at (509) 332-3144 or by email at instructionalprograms@psd267.org.

Teaching & Learning Home