1. Rising Scholars – A Pilot Program Presentation for Elementary School Staff

2. Who are our “Rising Scholars”? Students from historically underrepresented populations who lack: – Access – Affirmation – Advocates Students who have potential but may not have all the basic skills due to being a second language learner, having limited school readiness or home support, or who may have an exceptionality.

3. Who they are: Who they are not: Lack access and home resources Limited advocacy Limited affirmation of potential May lack self-motivation Show out of the box problem- solving May possess “Street Smarts” May lack self-identity Advanced readers Have advocates and resources School-ready Provided extracurricular activities Eager learners Good communicators Teacher pleasers

4. Spotsylvania County’s Pilot Program: “Rising Scholars Program” will : – Support and nurture the academic potential of young minds – Empower minority students with a powerful academic identity – Begin to close the achievement gap among minority, ECD, and ELL learners – Help increase test data – Encourage and mentor students to take rigorous courses of study

5. Identifying Rising Scholars Observations / conversations Performance Assessments / PALs & Progress Reports NNAT2 Scores Cognitive Behaviors Continuum & Gifted Behaviors Connection Teacher Referral Form Response Lessons Input from Guidance Counselors and ESOL teachers

6. Rising Scholars Service Model Clustered in homerooms (for 1 st grade and now rising 2 nd graders, too) Weekly pullout / inclusion lessons with gifted resource teacher Experiences to include: – Critical Thinking Activities & Problem Solving – Creativity Exercises – Strategies Lab ~ IDEA Grant

7. Suggested Timeline of Program Implementation 2012-2013 – February: Screening / administration of NNAT2 to K – Spring: Presentation to Invested Teachers of Rising Scholars; Identification of Rising Scholar participants – May: Implementation of Introductory Pullout Services – Summer: cluster grouping for first grade – September: Begin services for First Grade Rising Scholars

8. Referral Form and NNAT Results