Referral and Testing

All students in grades 3 - 8 have the opportunity to be evaluated for the Extended Learning Program. Students in grades K - 2 and in grades 9 - 12 are not evaluated for the program at this time. The process differs depending upon the grade level of your child.

Referral and Testing for Grade 3

All students in grade 3 are given the RAVEN’s Standard Progressive Matrices screening. The SPM measures visual perceptual skills and the ability to form perceptual relationships. It measures a student’s ability to reason by analogy, which helps students to understand new material more readily. It also measures a student’s ability to make sense out of complex data. The RAVEN’s Standard Progressive Matrices was designed to be independent of language, culture, or formal school experience. It does not measure math skills, although it correlates with that ability. It also does not measure reading skills or your child’s verbal ability.

Some students may be placed in the Extended Learning Program based on that screening in combination with a test of their overall academic achievement and parent permission to place. This screening is done twice per school year. The first time is in the first quarter of the school year and for students who were not here the first time, the screening is given again in the last quarter of the school year. In the 2009-2010 school year the dates will be September 21-25 and again April 19-23.

Referral and Testing in Grades 4 - 6

In grades 4 – 6 students are referred to the program as needed. Students may be referred for testing by anyone including teachers, parents, or even themselves. Once a student is referred, a form giving the Extended Learning teacher permission to test is sent home. After the parent has signed and returned the permission form, the child is placed on a testing schedule and tested as soon as possible. The ELP teacher will administer the Cognitive Abilities Test and if needed, will administer the Woodcock Johnson III Academic Abilities Test. When the child has finished testing parents are notified of the results. If the child is eligible for the Extended Learning Program, and the parent gives permission for the child to be placed, then a student plan is written and the student is formally placed in the program.

Referral and Testing in Grades 7 - 8

In grades 7 and 8 testing for the Extended Learning Program is done 2 times per school year. The first time is during the first nine weeks of the school year and the second time is during the last nine weeks of the school year. In the 2009-2010 school year the dates will be September 21-25 and again April 19-23. Students may be referred for this by anyone including teachers, parents, or even themselves. Once a student is referred, a permission form is sent home requesting permission to test for the Extended Learning Program. It needs to be signed and returned by the first day of testing, or the student will have to wait for the next scheduled testing week. After students are tested, parents are notified of the results. If the child is eligible for the Extended Learning Program, and the parent gives permission for the child to be placed, then a student plan is written and the student is formally placed in the program. The student may opt for a schedule change to accommodate the Extended Learning Program class in place of a class on the student’s current schedule.