Paoli Community School Corporation Statement of Philosophy for High Ability Education Each student has a right to an education that best fits the student’s needs. Each student should receive the opportunity to develop abilities to the greatest extent and to have talents nurtured. Educational opportunities should prepare each student to utilize abilities and talents to benefit society. Paoli Community School Corporation accepts the responsibility to find these students who require curriculum and instructional modification beyond those typically offered by the school corporation, utilizing the State of Indiana’s recognized areas of high ability: general intellectual ability and specific academic aptitudes. Paoli Community School Corporation also accepts the responsibility: To provide an articulated, sequential and differentiated curriculum in all of the basic disciplines in grades K-12; To provide a challenging and stimulating environment for each student that will promote excellence in recognized areas of high ability and To provide opportunities to strengthen creativity, motivation, leadership, and self- concept. In compliance with Indiana Code: Approved by Board of Trustees, Paoli School Corporation

Mission Statement: Paoli Schools recognize that some students perform at or show the potential to perform at an outstanding level of academic achievement compared with others of the same age, experience or environment. Paoli recognizes that these high ability learners are found in all socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic groups and that these learners require differentiated curriculum, instruction, and assessment in order to meet their unique cognitive and affective needs. Definition: Paoli Schools defines a high ability student as one who performs at, or shows the potential for performing at, an outstanding level of accomplishment in core academic areas and/or creativity when compared to other students of the same age, experience or environments.

The following goals have been developed for high ability students: 1. High ability students will consistently use critical thinking processes in all disciplines at an advanced level, in order to develop problem solving skills in their pursuit of advanced content in the disciplines necessary for the development of original products. 2. High ability students will pursue challenging, differentiated curriculum that will allow them to become self-directed, independent learners, and producers of original and innovative products. 3. High ability students will display a high level of proficiency in oral and written communication and consistently demonstrate those skills through communicating to appropriate audiences. 4. High ability students will accept their own uniqueness and will develop positive self-concepts as they creatively pursue their individual interests and needs. 5. High ability students will accept divergent views and respect each individual’s uniqueness as they cooperatively and responsibly interact with society.

The Paoli Community School Corporation uses a variety of services in meeting the needs of identified high ability students. The “cluster model” is one of the primary means of services to high ability students in grades K- 8. Identified students are clustered in classrooms, most with a teacher endorsed in gifted education. Differentiated instruction includes: Elementary: Language Arts and Math; and Resource Room (independent study) Middle: advanced science 7/8 loop, Biology I to 8 for HS credit Intro Algebra (pre-algebra) grade 7 focused on high ability needs; Algebra I in grade 8 for HS credit Offer Spanish I to 8 for HS credit; adding 7 in Offer Am./Brit. Lit for HS credit to 8/9/10 in High School: Further differentiation of content is provided in the high school grades through course offerings-honors classes (English and Biology), Advance Placement (AP) classes (Chemistry, Calculus, English, and Music Theory), and dual enrollment. Guidance counselors are available in each building to work with high ability students. School counselors may meet with small groups as well as individuals. Offer AP English Lit & Composition, grade 10/11 Offer AP Chemistry AP (grade 9,Bio I pre-req)10,11,12 Offer AP Spanish (IV) grade 12 (& 11 w/jr. high Sp I) Offer AP Government, Politics Offer AP Biology (tentative) Offer US History, Dual College Credit, grade 12 &11 Continue AP Calculus Guidance counselors are available in each building to work with high ability students. School counselors may meet with small groups as well as individuals

Students will be considered for identification by demonstrating “high levels of accomplishment in at least one domain when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment” on any one of the instruments used by the school corporation and identified in the following flow charts. Students considered for high ability services will be selected by a committee. Formal identification will take place in the spring of each year for students in grades K-8. This provides students eligibility for services during a multi-year span, and allows reconsideration on a regular basis. Initial screening of students will be made with a series of qualitative measures, as well as an ability measure. If they meet the established criteria in any of the screening tools, they will be further examined with an identification tool. The norm-reference measure of achievement will be used as the identification tool. · Algebra – Middle school students showing high aptitude and a readiness for algebra in the middle school will be given the Algebra Prognosis test for placement in middle school Algebra classes. Parent Nominations – Parents may nominate their child for high ability services in grades K-7. Self nominations are accepted from grades The nomination form is available through the school office and on the school website.

This process will be implemented during a student’s current grade level for placement in next year’s programming Appeals/Exit Policy On File

Kindergarten students… Screening Pool Screening Pool Determined by high ability committee to merit continued monitoring Determined by high ability committee to be identified KOI – High score of 2 or more activities out of 4 Teacher Nomination: KOI Checklist Parent Nomination Cognitive score of 96 th percentile and above Verbal: LA Quantitative: Math Both: Intellectual Cognitive score of 96 th percentile and above Verbal: LA Quantitative: Math Both: Intellectual Cognitive score of th percentile Quantitative + 96 th or higher nonverbal : Math Cognitive score of th percentile Quantitative + 96 th or higher nonverbal : Math I-Read-(score of 96 th percentile and above) High Ability Cognitive score of th percentile Verbal: Quantitative: Non Verbal Cognitive score of th percentile Verbal: Quantitative: Non Verbal (Cognitive score used for id in grades K-1) This process will be implemented during a student’s current grade level for placement in next year’s programming

First Grade Students… Screening Pool Screening Pool Determined by high ability committee to merit continued monitoring Determined by high ability committee to be identified High Ability Parent Nomination Teacher Nomination Terra Nova Achievement test 96 th percentile and above Language/Math (Cognitive score from K will be reviewed) This process will be implemented during a student’s current grade level for placement in next year’s programming Any Achievement Language, Math and/or Science 89 to 95 th percentile Work or product samplesTeacher Checklist

Second Grade Students… Screening Pool Screening Pool Parent Nomination Cognitive 96 th percentile and above Verbal: LA Quantitative: Math Both: Intellectual Cognitive 96 th percentile and above Verbal: LA Quantitative: Math Both: Intellectual Cognitive score of 89 th -95 th percentile Quantitative +96 th or higher nonverbal : Math Cognitive score of 89 th -95 th percentile Quantitative +96 th or higher nonverbal : Math Acuity Scores: Tier 4 Grade 2 Acuity Scores: Tier 4 Grade 2 Determined by high ability committee to be identified Terra Nova From Grade 1 96 th percentile and above Language/Math Terra Nova From Grade 1 96 th percentile and above Language/Math High Ability Determined by high ability committee to merit continued monitoring Math Prompt Language Arts Prompt Teacher Nomination Renzulli Checklist Teacher Nomination Renzulli Checklist This process will be implemented during a student’s current grade level for placement in next year’s programming

Grades 3-5 Students… Screening Pool Screening Pool Determined by high ability committee to merit continued monitoring Determined by high ability committee to be identified High Ability Math Prompt Language Arts Prompt Teacher Nomination Renzulli Checklist Teacher Nomination Renzulli Checklist Math and/or Language I-STEP Pass Plus + Teacher Recommendation Parent Recommendation This process will be implemented during a student’s current grade level for placement in next year’s programming

Sixth Grade Students… Math and/or Language, Science I- STEP Pass Plus + (gr 5, 6) Teacher Recommendation Parent Recommendation Any Achievement Language, Math and/or Science 89 to 95 th percentile Language and/or Science Terra Nova 96 th percentile or higher Math: Orleans-Hanna 96 th percentile or higher Teacher ChecklistWork or product samples Screening Pool Screening Pool Determined by high ability committee to merit continued monitoring Determined by high ability committee to be identified High Ability This process will be implemented during a student’s current grade level for placement in next year’s programming

8 th -11 th Grade Students… Screening Pool Screening Pool Determined by high ability committee to merit continued monitoring Determined by high ability committee to be identified High Ability Math and/or Language I-step Pass + or ECA ? Teacher Recommendation Self Nomination PSAT/AP Potential This process will be implemented during a student’s current grade level for placement in next year’s programming

Consider K-12 Identification Committee : (to facilitate communication and articulation between buildings, programs) K-5 Committee:6-8 Committee:9-12 Committee: CoordinatorCoordinatorCoordinator Building AdministratorBuilding AdministratorBuilding Administrator Primary TeachersDept. ChairsDept. Chairs Intermediate TeachersCounselor Counselor Appeals/Exit Policy On File