Highly Capable Program
Highly Capable Program
Pullman’s Highly Capable program offers qualified students instruction, services and activities to enrich and extend learning. Pullman Public Schools uses multiple objective criteria to identify the most Highly Capable students for services.
What Does it Offer?
Program Features:
Grades K-8
Qualifying K-8 students are cluster grouped in general education classrooms. These Highly Capable identified classrooms are taught by teachers trained in differentiating instruction to meet the needs of gifted learners.
Grades 9-12
Qualifying students may select: Honors Option, Advanced Placement Courses, College in the High School, or Running Start as available or approved.
Translations
Selección para el Programa de Altas Capacidades para el año escolar 2026-2027
Los formularios de recomendación para que alumnos actuales de kínder a 11.° grado reciban servicios para altas capacidades durante próximo año escolar en curso se aceptarán del 9 al 20 de marzo. Los padres, tutores, maestros, estudiantes y otras personas con conocimiento directo de las capacidades de un estudiante pueden recomendar a un estudiante para servicios para altas capacidades.
Además de las recomendaciones, se tomarán en cuenta los resultados de evaluaciones universales. Nuestro distrito utiliza la evaluación de Medición del Progreso Académico (MAP, por sus siglas en inglés) como evaluación universal del kínder al 8.° grado.
Para ver más información sobre el proceso de recomendación, así como otros recursos, use los enlaces siguientes. El siguiente enlace al formulario de recomendación se activará el 9 de marzo.
Si necesita un formulario en otro idioma, desplácese a la parte inferior de esta página y seleccione la carpeta "Highly Capable Program Packets/Forms" (Paquetes/formularios del Programa de Altas Capacidades), y luego seleccione su idioma. Si no aparece su idioma, comuníquese con la Oficina de Programas Educativos al teléfono (509)332-3144 o al correo electrónico highlycapable@psd267.org.
3月9日至20日，我们将接受幼儿园至11年级学生在下一学年获得高水平服务的推荐表。家长/监护人、教师、学生和任何其他直接了解学生能力的人士都可以推荐学生获得高水平服务。
除推荐外，我们还将参考全体学生选拔结果。本学区采用学业进步量表(MAP)在K-8年级的全体学生中开展选拔。
欲了解有关推荐流程和资源的更多信息，请查看下方链接。下方的推荐表链接将于3月9日开放。
如果您需要本表格的其他语言版本，请滚动至本页底部并选择“高水平计划文件包/表格”文件夹，然后选择您使用的语言。如果未找到您使用的语言，请联系教学计划办公室：(509)332-3144或highlycapable@psd267.org.。
برنامج اختيار الطلاب ذوي القدرات العالية للعام الدراسي 2026-2027
ستُقبل استمارات الإحالة للطلاب الحاليين من الروضة وحتى الصف الحادي عشر لتلقي خدمات الطلاب ذوي القدرات العالية خلال العام الدراسي القادم في الفترة من 9 مارس إلى 20 مارس. ويمكن لأولياء الأمور/الأوصياء، والمعلمين، والطلاب، وأي شخص آخر لديه معرفة مباشرة بقدرات الطالب أن يحيل الطالب للحصول على خدمات الطلاب ذوي القدرات العالية.
بالإضافة إلى الإحالات، سيتم أيضًا أخذ نتائج الفحص الشامل بعين الاعتبار. ومن ثم تستخدم منطقتنا التعليمية اختبار مقاييس التقدم الأكاديمي (MAP) في الصفوف من الروضة إلى الصف الثامن كفحص شامل.
للحصول على مزيدٍ من المعلومات بشأن عملية الإحالة والموارد، يُرجى اتباع الروابط الموضحة أدناه. سيكون رابط استمارة الإحالة متاحًا في 9 مارس.
إذا كنت بحاجة إلى استمارة بلغة أخرى، فيُرجى التمرير إلى أسفل هذه الصفحة وتحديد مجلد "برنامج الطلاب ذوي القدرات العالية/الاستمارات"، ثم تحديد لغتك. إذا لم تكن لغتك
مدرجة، فيُرجى الاتصال بمكتب البرامج التعليمية على الرقم
(509)332-3144 أو التواصل عبر highlycapable@psd267.org.
-
Selección para el Programa de Altas Capacidades para el año escolar 2026-2027
Los formularios de recomendación para que alumnos actuales de kínder a 11.° grado reciban servicios para altas capacidades durante próximo año escolar en curso se aceptarán del 9 al 20 de marzo. Los padres, tutores, maestros, estudiantes y otras personas con conocimiento directo de las capacidades de un estudiante pueden recomendar a un estudiante para servicios para altas capacidades.
Además de las recomendaciones, se tomarán en cuenta los resultados de evaluaciones universales. Nuestro distrito utiliza la evaluación de Medición del Progreso Académico (MAP, por sus siglas en inglés) como evaluación universal del kínder al 8.° grado.
Para ver más información sobre el proceso de recomendación, así como otros recursos, use los enlaces siguientes. El siguiente enlace al formulario de recomendación se activará el 9 de marzo.
Si necesita un formulario en otro idioma, desplácese a la parte inferior de esta página y seleccione la carpeta "Highly Capable Program Packets/Forms" (Paquetes/formularios del Programa de Altas Capacidades), y luego seleccione su idioma. Si no aparece su idioma, comuníquese con la Oficina de Programas Educativos al teléfono (509)332-3144 o al correo electrónico highlycapable@psd267.org. -
2026-2027 学年高水平计划选拔
3月9日至20日，我们将接受幼儿园至11年级学生在下一学年获得高水平服务的推荐表。家长/监护人、教师、学生和任何其他直接了解学生能力的人士都可以推荐学生获得高水平服务。
除推荐外，我们还将参考全体学生选拔结果。本学区采用学业进步量表(MAP)在K-8年级的全体学生中开展选拔。
欲了解有关推荐流程和资源的更多信息，请查看下方链接。下方的推荐表链接将于3月9日开放。
如果您需要本表格的其他语言版本，请滚动至本页底部并选择“高水平计划文件包/表格”文件夹，然后选择您使用的语言。如果未找到您使用的语言，请联系教学计划办公室：(509)332-3144或highlycapable@psd267.org.。 -
برنامج اختيار الطلاب ذوي القدرات العالية للعام الدراسي 2026-2027
ستُقبل استمارات الإحالة للطلاب الحاليين من الروضة وحتى الصف الحادي عشر لتلقي خدمات الطلاب ذوي القدرات العالية خلال العام الدراسي القادم في الفترة من 9 مارس إلى 20 مارس. ويمكن لأولياء الأمور/الأوصياء، والمعلمين، والطلاب، وأي شخص آخر لديه معرفة مباشرة بقدرات الطالب أن يحيل الطالب للحصول على خدمات الطلاب ذوي القدرات العالية.
بالإضافة إلى الإحالات، سيتم أيضًا أخذ نتائج الفحص الشامل بعين الاعتبار. ومن ثم تستخدم منطقتنا التعليمية اختبار مقاييس التقدم الأكاديمي (MAP) في الصفوف من الروضة إلى الصف الثامن كفحص شامل.
للحصول على مزيدٍ من المعلومات بشأن عملية الإحالة والموارد، يُرجى اتباع الروابط الموضحة أدناه. سيكون رابط استمارة الإحالة متاحًا في 9 مارس.
إذا كنت بحاجة إلى استمارة بلغة أخرى، فيُرجى التمرير إلى أسفل هذه الصفحة وتحديد مجلد "برنامج الطلاب ذوي القدرات العالية/الاستمارات"، ثم تحديد لغتك. إذا لم تكن لغتك
مدرجة، فيُرجى الاتصال بمكتب البرامج التعليمية على الرقم
(509)332-3144 أو التواصل عبر highlycapable@psd267.org.
Highly Capable Family Information
Pullman School District strives to recognize, support, and encourage the unique needs of highly capable students and to provide challenging and invigorating curriculum and opportunities.
Definition of “Highly Capable”
The Pullman School District recognizes the state definition of highly capable students as students who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experience, and environments. Outstanding abilities are seen within students’ general intellectual aptitudes, specific academic abilities, and/or creative productivities within a specific domain. Highly capable students may possess, but are not limited to, the following learning characteristics:
- Capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations;
- Capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers;
- Creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts;
- Ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength; and
- Capacity for intense concentration and/or focus
The Pullman School District Highly Capable Program seeks to identify the most highly capable students in our district who will benefit the most from highly capable services. A student will be identified as highly capable, and therefore qualify for highly capable services, if he/she meets criteria on two of the three state defined areas noted below:
- Academic abilities
- Intellectual aptitude (cognitive)
- Creativity
Characteristics of Highly Capable Children
Observing characteristics of highly capable students is often difficult when we are dealing with obviously bright children. The chart below is helpful in seeing the subtle differences between the bright child and the highly capable learner.
| Bright Child | Highly Capable Learner |
|---|---|
| Knows the answers | Asks the questions |
| Is interested | Is highly curious |
| Is attentive | Is mentally and physically involved |
| Answers the questions | Discusses in detail, elaborates |
| Top group | Beyond top group |
| Listens with interest | Shows strong feelings and opinions |
| Learns with ease | Already knows |
| 6-8 repetitions for mastery | 1-2 repetitions for mastery |
| Understands ideas | Constructs abstractions |
| Enjoys peers | Prefers adults |
| Grasps the meaning | Draws inferences |
| Is receptive | Is intense |
| Copies accurately | Creates a new design |
| Enjoys school | Enjoys learning |
| Absorbs information | Manipulates information |
| Technician | Inventor |
| Good memorizer | Good guesser |
| Enjoys straightforward, sequential presentation | Thrives on complexity |
| Is alert | Is keenly observant |
| Is pleased with own learning | Is highly self-critical |
| Additional Examples of Characteristics of the Highly Capable Learner: |
|---|
| Advanced vocabulary |
| Experiments with ideas |
| Curiosity (asks endless questions) |
| Sophisticated sense of humor |
| Perfectionist |
| Advanced creativity |
Overview of Referral Process
Step 1: Referral
- The individual making the referral completes the online referral form by the last day of fall conference week or the last day of spring conference week
- Teacher and parent/guardian will each complete an online rating scale
- Counselor will help the student complete a paper version of a self-rating scale at school.
- The Highly Capable Selection Committee reviews referrals to determine which students meet the eligibility requirements to move forward to cognitive testing
- The committee notifies parents/guardians of their student’s eligibility to test and communicates the date of testing for eligible students. Parental permission must be given to proceed with testing.
Step 2: Selection
The Highly Capable Selection Committee reviews data to determine which students are eligible for further testing.
- Measures of Academic Progress (MAP): The student’s overall achievement score is at or above the 90th percentile in mathematics and reading within the last 12 months
- Rating scales: An average rating scale score of 40 or higher from the classroom teacher and specific evidence of gifted behaviors in written narratives
- Smarter Balance Assessment (SBA): The student scores at or above the 90th percentile in mathematics and ELA
- WIDA ACCESS for multilingual learners
- Standardized assessments included in a student’ Individual Education Evaluation (IEP)
The committee notifies parents/guardians of the decision by mail within thirty calendar days.
Step 3: Assessment
- Eligible students are administered a cognitive test
- The selection committee may decide to administer the creativity test to the student
- Students may only be assessed once per academic year
Step 4: Qualification
The selection committee reviews data to determine which students met the qualifications for highly capable services.
- Cognitive: The student’s overall IQ is at or above the 97th percentile
- Creativity: The student’s overall creativity test score is in the 9th stanine in at least one subsection, or at or above the 97th percentile
- Data from the selection process is also taken into consideration
The committee notifies parents/guardians of the decision by mail within thirty calendar days.
Step 5: Services
Students identified as highly capable begin receiving services:
- Immediately after selection is complete for fall testing (kindergarten and transfer students only)
- The following school year after selection is complete for spring testing
| Kindergarten | 1st Grade-8th Grade | 9th Grade-12th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Differentiated Instruction | Cluster Grouping | Students can self-select any of the following service options:
|
| Advanced level mathematics: above grade level mathematics classes are offered to students who meet eligibility criteria for the specific class | ||
Differentiated Instruction: Teachers adapt instruction on the basis of advanced needs of learners. Materials and resources are varied according to a student's readiness, interests, and learning preferences.
Cluster Grouping: Highly capable students of the same grade level are assigned to a single classroom with a teacher who has specialized training in how to teach highly capable students. Students who are not receiveing highly capable services are also assigned to the same classroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Pullman School District looks at a variety of data points to identify students who are performing—or who demonstrate the potential to perform—at significantly advanced levels compared to peers of similar age, background, and experience.
Multiple measures are considered, including national achievement assessments (MAP and SBA), the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), and English language proficiency results (WIDA). When appropriate, special education information for twice-exceptional students may also be reviewed to help determine eligibility for highly capable services.
No single score determines qualification. Instead, the district reviews data from up to the past two years. A multidisciplinary team examines the full body of evidence and makes recommendations for placement based on the comprehensive review.
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Program Features:
Grades K-8
Qualifying K-8 students are cluster grouped in general education classrooms. These Highly Capable identified classrooms are taught by teachers trained in differentiating instruction to meet the needs of gifted learners.
Grades 9-12
Qualifying students may select: Honors Option, Advanced Placement Courses, College in the High School, or Running Start as available or approved.
-
There is a referral window in March starting the week of parent-teacher conferences.
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Multiple pathways help ensure no student is overlooked in the process. This includes students who may be underrepresented such as those who:
- Qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch
- Receive McKinney-Vento services
- Receive Special Education services
- Are Multilingual Learners
-
Step 1: Referral is made
Step 2: A committee evaluates multiple objective criteria, MAPS & SBA testing for students scoring in the highest percentiles.
Step 3: Students with high academic scores are then moved to take the cognitive screener
Step 4: Students scoring in the highest percentiles are then given the full cogAT
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Final recommendations are made by a district-level Multi-Disciplinary Placement Committee (MPC), as required by state law.
The MPC includes:
- Current Teachers
- School leaders
- Central office staff
Decisions are based on multiple educational data collected during the previous school year and the first assessment window of the current school year.
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Families have the option to opt out of Highly Capable services. If a parent changes their mind, their student may be reviewed again in future school years.
Timeline
MARCH 9-20
REFERRAL WINDOW
Data collection and evaluation of multiple objective criteria and rating scales
MARCH 23-27
COGAT SCREENER
Cognitive Screening test administered in each building.
MARCH 30-APRIL 3
COGAT FULL
Full Cognitive testing for highest scoring students in each building.
APRIL 6-10
SELECTION
Determine placement and communicate with families & teachers.
Family Resources & Links
Transfer Students
Students who transfer from out-of-district and have qualified to receive highly capable services in their previous district are not automatically enrolled in the Highly Capable Program. The Highly Capable Selection Committee will review tests scores and placement letters from the prior district to determine if they meet the selection criteria of the Pullman School District. Students who transfer from a district that does not offer highly capable testing and/or services are eligible to be referred for highly capable services during the October and February referral periods.
Appeals Process
Any student or parent/guardian who is aggrieved by the student not meeting the criteria for highly capable services has the right to appeal the Highly Capable Selection Committee’s decision. Appeals must be based upon one of the following conditions:
- A condition or circumstance believed to have caused a misinterpretation of the testing results.
- An inequitable application of the identification process.
- An extraordinary and temporary circumstance that negatively affected the validity of the test results.
Individuals appealing the selection committee’s decision must submit a written letter of appeal outlining one of the conditions of appeal listed above and, to support reconsideration, provide additional evidence of significantly advanced cognitive or academic levels and/or outstanding intellectual, academic, or creative abilities. Letters of appeal must be submitted to the assistant superintendent within ten business days of the notification of the selection committee’s decision being sent. Upon receipt of the letter of appeal, an informal conference between the parent/guardian and the Highly Capable Selection Committee will be scheduled and held within ten business days. The sole purpose of this meeting will be to resolve the grievance. The parent/guardian will be notified in writing of the selection committee’s response to the appeal within ten business days of the meeting. The decision of the selection committee is final.
Exit Procedure
A parent/guardian or student can request that a student be exited from services and the parent/guardian’s wishes will be honored, but a meeting will be scheduled between the parent/guardian and the Highly Capable Program director to discuss the reason for the request prior to formally withdrawing the student from program services. If a student no longer demonstrates a need for services, an educator familiar with the student may request that the Highly Capable Selection Committee review the student’s initial identification records and any subsequent assessment records to determine if the student continues to meet program eligibility criteria. If the committee determines that the student no longer qualifies for services, it may recommend that the student be exited from services. This recommendation is very rare and is based on the best interests of the student.
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.