FAQ's
Highly Capable Program FAQs
At the elementary level, students are served in their identified domains through a full-time, self-contained program housed at Terrace Park School. Students will receive enhanced learning opportunities where they investigate complex problems and explore concepts in greater depth and complexity. In math, students will be accelerated one level above the student’s grade level.
At the middle school level, students are served in their identified domains through English, Humanities, Math, and Science courses housed at Brier Terrace Middle School. In math, students will be accelerated by an additional year. In the other courses, students will receive enhanced learning opportunities where they investigate complex problems and explore concepts in greater depth and complexity.
High School students identified as highly capable will have the opportunity during their 8th-grade year to choose placement in one of the following 9th-12th grade Accelerated Program options: the IB program at EWHS, the STEM program at MTHS, or Honors and AP at their local high school. All students will have the ability to attend College in the high school and Running Start.
Is there an age or grade limit to test?
Students must be in kindergarten or above in order to be eligible for testing.
Is there a fee to have my child tested for the program?
No. The Highly Capable Program is fully funded by the state as Basic Education.
How do I know if my student is a good candidate for the Challenge program?
The Challenge program serves elementary students identified as highly capable. One way to explore if this program would be a good fit for your student is to discuss your student’s academic abilities and performance with their current teacher. Aside from high academic performance and strong aptidue abilities, here are some typical intellectual characteristics of children identified as highly capable:
- Is your student very curious?
- Does your student learn quickly?
- Does your student speak, read, or write in another language?
- Does your student think creatively?
- Does your student enjoy doing puzzles?
- Does your student speak more than one language and use both languages to communicate?
- Does your student think about complex and abstract ideas?
- Does your student learn new ideas without instruction?
- Is your student a leader at school, with their family, or in their community?
- Does your student enjoy solving problems with numbers?
When is the referral period?
The referral period for the following school year's program is held each year from April through October 31st and is open to all students in kindergarten through twelth grade residing in the Edmonds School District Boundary.
How do I get a referral?
Referrals will be made available on the Highly Capable website beginning in April and remain through the referral deadline of October 31st.
Can out-of-district students apply?
Only if they are currently attending an Edmonds School District school on an approved Choice Transfer Request.
We don’t live in Edmonds School District, but we are thinking of moving. Can we apply?
Not until you actually live in the district or attend an Edmonds School District school.
Are there any screening requirements for testing?
No. Only the completed referral form needs to be submitted prior to the deadline of October 31st.
Can my child still take the NNAT3 test without standardized test scores?
Yes, but they are very helpful to the Multidisciplinary Placement Committee and should be submitted if at all possible. Private school students will take standardized tests administered by the Edmonds School District. All referral materials must be submitted by October 31st.
Does everyone who completes a referral and turns it in by the deadline get assessed?
Yes.
I had my child privately tested. Can I submit these results with the application?
No. Due to equity for all students, the district does not accept private testing results. All students must go through the district’s identification process to be eligible for Highly Capable programs.
My child is in a private school. What should we do?
The Highly Capable office reviews academic performance and achievement or state test results if available. Along with the completed referral packet, please submit achievement or state test results along with proof of residency to the Highly Capable Program office before October 31st. It is very helpful to the Multi-disciplinary Placement Committee if the former year or current teacher completes the Staff Inventory Form.
If my child attends an Edmonds School District school, do I need to provide proof of residency?
No. Only those families that are currently attending private schools or are homeschooled need to show proof of residency.
When are the tests given for the Highly Capable programs?
The NNAT3 will be given to all students that have turned in a referral packet by October 31st. Testing is done in November and December during the school day at your child's school, if they attend one of the district's schools. If your student is a private school or an independently homeschooled student, then they will test on two Saturdays in December. Testing dates are announced on the Highly Capable Program website as soon as they are determined, usually in late spring. Please save the dates on your calendar as soon as possible as there will only be one make-up testing day for those students that fall ill during their testing day. Being on vacation or out of town is not an acceptable reason to miss the regularly scheduled testing date; your child will not be given a make-up test opportunity.
What is the testing process?
Students will be tested in a group setting unless they have an IEP or 504 stating otherwise. All students taking the NNAT3 will have the test directions read to them by a district proctor. There are 48 questions that will need to be completed in 30 minutes. All students will utilize their Chromebook to access these tests.
What if my child is sick and cannot take the test on the scheduled date?
Students that are unable to attend testing due to illness, with a doctor’s note, will be given one opportunity for a make-up test as determined by the district. The make-up test will be scheduled during a school day in early January. Parents must contact the Highly Capable office (via email) prior to the beginning of the test day in order to add their child’s name to the make-up testing roster. If a student is unable to test on the district scheduled make-up day, they may test the next year during the regularly scheduled winter testing cycle for potential placement the following school year.
We ask that families prioritize posted testing dates; therefore, make-up testing will not be offered in cases of personal scheduling conflicts or students arriving late for their testing appointment.
What if we have a family emergency and my child cannot take the test on the scheduled date?
Students that are unable to attend testing due to exceptional, unforeseen circumstances will be given one opportunity for a make-up test as determined by the district. The make-up test will be scheduled during a weekday in early January. Parents must contact the Highly Capable office (via email or voicemail) prior to the beginning of the test in order to get their child's name on the make-up testing roster. If a student is unable to test on the district scheduled make-up day, they may test the following year during the regularly scheduled winter testing cycle for potential placement the following school year.
We ask that families prioritize posted testing dates; therefore, make-up testing will not be offered in cases of personal scheduling conflicts or students arriving late for their testing appointment.
How will we be notified of the results of the Testing?
You will receive a Determination Letter in Parent Square in early February . This letter will include the NNAT3 results along with the achievement test data the multi-disciplinary placement committee used in their recommendation. If your child was identified for placement into the Challenge program or Highly Capable program you will also receive an invitation to attend the Prospective Family Tour, usually the second week in February. When dates are known, they will be made available on the Highly Capable website. No score results will be given over the phone. Written requests for emailed results will not be considered until after the second week of February.
Can I appeal the results?
Decisions of the Multi-disciplinary Placement Committee (MPC) can be appealed only in the winter of the same school year in which the student was tested. Appeals may only be made based upon one of the following conditions:
An extraordinary circumstance occurred during testing that may have negatively affected thevalidity of the test results (i.e., a traumatic event or an illness preventing the completion of thetest).
A misapplication or miscalculation of the assessment data by the selection committee (i.e.,incorrect birthdate or grade level used in calculating the student’s score).
The decision of the appeal review team is final and may not be challenged.
Can we observe Challenge or Highly Capable classrooms?
Families are not allowed to observe the Challenge classrooms. Visitors are a distraction to any classroom, so it is important to keep visits to a minimum. In February, after placement determination letters have been received by families, there will be group tours for those that have been identified for placement into the programs. These tours will be after school and prior to the deadline for submitting the decisions.
How can I talk with parents of students in the program?
The Challenge Parents Association (CPA) is a good source of information about the Challenge program, especially from the perspective of parents. CPA holds monthly general meetings, has a parent representative at each school and maintains a website www.challengeparents.org.
We are moving into the Edmonds School District and my child attended a gifted program at their last school, do we need to wait until the winter testing cycle to have them assessed?
No. Once you move into the Edmonds School District, contact the Highly Capable office to have your child tested before registering them at your neighborhood school. Usually, testing can happen rather quickly so it shouldn’t delay getting your child into school.
My child was attending a highly capable program in their previous school and we moved into the district during summer break, who do we contact and when?
The Highly Capable office is open year round, just contact our office once you are living within the district boundaries to arrange testing.
My child was attending a gifted/highly capable program in their previous school district and we moved into the Edmonds School District mid-semester, what do we do?
Contact the Highly Capable office as soon as you are living in the district to arrange testing.
What documentation do I need to have my student tested outside of the annual testing window?
(This option is only for students previously placed in a gifted/highly capable program.)
We will need proof of residency in the Edmonds School District (PUD bill, Rental or Homeowners Insurance, Lease or Mortgage Statement). Proof of previous services in the previous district. You will also need to provide any relevent standardized test scores such as i-Ready, SBA, or NNAT3.
Highly Capable Program Specialist
425-431-7157
Last Modified on May 25, 2021