The State of Washington defines highly capable students as possessing capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations. They have a capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers. They are able to learn very quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength. Finally, highly capable students have a capacity of intense concentration and/or focus.    

Referrals are permitted and accepted based on data or evidence from teachers, other staff, parents, students, and members of the community. Nominators will use the district’s nomination form to refer a student to be considered for admission in the program.

Nominations for currently enrolled students (who the district has not tested in the previous two years) are accepted each spring, for the following school year.  Students enrolled in the district after the annual open enrollment period each spring, may be tested during the first few weeks of school.  After the September testing window, only students new to the district may be tested and admitted into the program in January.

Referral forms are available on the district website under For Families, then Academic Support for Families, then Highly Capable Program or at the school front offices.

Parents and members of the community will be able to submit these student referral forms to the district office or directly to the highly capable program coordinator via in person, by email, by mail, or by fax. You may also turn the recommendation forms in at your school front office.

The assessments that will be used are called the Cognitive Abilities Test or CogAT as well as the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking.  The CogAT test measures students’ verbal, quantitative as well as nonverbal reasoning and problem solving skills. At the primary levels the test is entirely pictorial.  As the name suggests, the Torrance Test of CreativeThinking test, in large part, how creative and imaginative your child is.  This tests for the child’s ability to think outside the box.

Appropriate measures will be taken to ensure equal access for all nominated students. This assessment may be given in a group or individually at the school during the regular school day. This information may be shared with teachers, principals, and other appropriate school personnel. Written parental permission will be required of all students nominated to take the test before highly capable program testing can begin.

Any student who is recommended for the program, whether by a teacher or a parent, will be assessed using the CogAT.  If additional information is needed, a student may also be assessed using the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking.

No, these assessments are not available to the public to preserve the reliability of the test. The idea is to determine the student’s natural cognitive ability. The best thing you can do for your child is to read with them, expose them to advanced vocabulary and encourage critical thinking.

It is not the type of assessment you can study for. The test doesn’t indicate which students will have success in school but rather which students might benefit from additional enrichment.

Steilacoom Historical School District will work to accommodate students who miss the regular testing dates due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness or family emergencies.

Upon receiving the results of the CogAT, a multidisciplinary committee will meet to determine which students will be selected to participate in the program based on assessment performance, specific academic achievement, exceptional academic creativity, information from parents and teachers, and space availability.

All parents will receive written notification in the mail of whether or not their child was selected to participate in this program.

Parents/legal guardians have the right to appeal the Multidisciplinary Selection Committee’s decision within 14 days of the date listed on the non-acceptance letter. 

Individuals appealing the selection committee’s decision must submit a letter to the Highly Capable Program Coordinator requesting review of the selection/placement decision.

All appeals must include evidence supporting that 1) a circumstance exists which may have caused a misinterpretation of the testing results; 2) the identification process was unfairly applied; and/or 3) there is additional evidence of significantly advanced cognitive, academic and/or creative abilities.

Appeals are reviewed by the Multidisciplinary Committee.

 No. Students can only be recommended once every two years.

The pullout will NOT occur during lunches or recesses. Exact times and locations to be determined.

The enrichment will be an extension of the material being studied in the classroom in both mathematics and science.

There will be an emphasis on problem solving and critical thinking in these areas. Most of our district's Highly Capable Program curriculum is from the Center For Gifted Education at the College of William and Mary.

The funds for this program come from a grant. For more information please visit the OSPI website:OSPI Highly Capable Program Information