PATH THE PROGRAM FOR ACADEMICALLY TALENTED AT HOPE Lisa Frissora-Director

Topics of Discussion Types of Gifted Students Talent Search Concept What is acceleration? Why take an out of grade level test like the ACT or SAT? Why is it beneficial to take accelerated classes? PATH Program

Distinction Gifted: having extraordinary intellectual ability and creativity Talented: having exceptional skills and ability in a specific area such as art, music, science, and language

Intellectually gifted Students who are exceptional learners.

Creatively Gifted or Talented These students display their unique abilities within the framework of the visual or performing arts.

Invisible gifted Members of diverse cultural populations Students with disabilities, especially learning, behavior or psychomotor disabilities Females-lower math and diminished abilities as adolescence progresses

Academically Talented Students who are academically advanced grade levels beyond their peers.

Types of programs Resource programs Self-containedInclusion

How do you identify students who are gifted and talented?

Topic One Talent Search In the early seventies, Dr. Julian Stanley of John Hopkins University used the SAT-The Scholastic Aptitude Test to identify junior high students who had exceptional mathematical or verbal reasoning ability. The study concluded that if students score at the level of high school juniors or seniors they would benefit from accelerated, challenging course work. Today over 150,000 3rd-9th graders from across the United States participate annually through four university-based centers.

Topic Two What is acceleration? Acceleration allows the student to progress at a faster rate through a program while at a younger age than usual. Types of acceleration can range from entering Kindergarten early to telescoping curriculum. There are over 18 types of acceleration. Acceleration also provides students with curriculum that can be matched more to their social and emotional state.

Topic Three Why take an out of grade level test like the Explore, ACT or SAT “Above-level” testing provides a more precise assessment of a bright child’s potential in reading, math and science. This information provides schools and families with identification and assessment tools. This will help in making important decisions of finding what is the “right fit” for the student.

Topic Four Why is it beneficial to take accelerated classes? Taking courses at an earlier grade level or in a shorter amount of time, allows the student the opportunity to work at a pace that is appropriate for the student. How does a child’s score demonstrate what type of acceleration is appropriate? Taking accelerated courses allows the students to take courses in high school that he/she would not normally reach.

PATH Lisa Frissora-PATH Director, since 2004 PATH began in 1986 as a cooperative project between Hope College and the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District. In the last five years, PATH’s enrollment has grown from 65 students to over 180 students from over 20 school districts.

PATH-Program For Academically Talented at Hope College The PATH program offers accelerated classes in Composition and Literature, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I/II, Geometry, Advanced Mathematics (Pre-Calculus) and Biology. PATH courses meet once a week at Hope College and work at their home school the other four days of the school week. PATH is an opportunity for students to interact with peers that share their passion for learning and those that are seeking a challenge.

School Year Details PATH classes meet from the first Tuesday/Thursday after Labor Day until the last week in May. PATH classes follow the school district calendars as much as possible. PATH classes are cancelled during the week of Thanksgiving, two weeks at Christmas, Spring Break and Tulip Time. If there are two or more snow days, it will be determined if a PATH class will be made up at the end of the year.

PATH Transportation PATH meets once a week on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons from 1:00-3:30 on Hope’s campus. Students arrive by parent or school transportation. Students can be monitored until 3:45 in a PATH study hall if a parent can not arrive promptly at 3:30. PATH attempts to house all students in one or two buildings located on campus. All students enter the campus through Van Zoeren Hall located on 10 th street. Afternoon dismissal is the same.

Financial Information PATH tuition is paid either by the student’s district or the family depending on whether they attend public school, private school or are home-schooled. Each district has a separate policy on tuition and transportation. PATH tuition bills are sent out at the end of October. Arrangements may be made with Hope College Accounting to spread out the payments during the school year. If a student drops a class in the first six weeks, a prorated fee is charged for that student. After six weeks, the class is non-refundable.

Things to Consider… Encourage your students to participate in activities and courses that motivate them and provide them joy. Work with your district to find an academic plan that is the “right fit” for your child.