Secondary students may be referred for possible HiCap services by a parent/guardian, teacher, peer, community member, or themselves in the spring.

Identified students will begin receiving HiCap services the following school year.

Referral forms include a Parent Inventory Survey that needs to be completed by March 19. Instead of CogAT testing, students will be asked to submit a portfolio containing ELA, math, creativity, and leadership work samples.

Complete the 2020-2021 Secondary HiCap Referral Form online between February 22 and March 19.

Portfolio Requirements

All referred students must submit a portfolio by March 31.

Each referred student will submit a portfolio reflecting the traditional thinking of a Highly Capable student. Return the completed portfolio to the HiCap department.

The portfolio must include the following four work samples:

1. One English Language Arts (ELA) work sample which can include essays, book projects, cross-disciplinary work that shows deep analysis and/or application in Science and Social Studies.
2. One math work sample that shows multiple pathways of solving problems at a higher level and deep reasoning abilities.
3. One project that shows interdisciplinary work, and creativity.
4. An explanation of leadership experience inside and/or outside of school and community initiatives.

Please scan all portfolio documents and email them to KSDHiCap@kent.k12.wa.us or mail them to the HiCap office before March 31, 2021.

Kent School District
Highly Capable Program
12033 SE 256th St., Suite D-200
Kent, WA 98030

Assessment Data

In addition to the Portfolio, we will also review data for referred students from other assessments,

• Reading i-Ready Benchmark Assessment
• Reading Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) from the last two years
• Math i-Ready Benchmark Assessment
• Math Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) from the last two years
• First-semester report card and grades

We will consider input from teacher(s) and parent(s)/guardian(s) using rating scales.

English Language Learners

Students with a first language other than English will also be evaluated for rapid language acquisition using the Washington Language Proficiency Assessment (WELPA).

Special Education Students

Students who qualify for HiCap and also qualify for either special education services or a 504 plan are often referred to as twice-exceptional students. It is important that staff from both programs collaborate when planning for students who are eligible for multiple services. Additional data available for students with IEPs may also be used in the identification process.

The Multidisciplinary Selection Committee will meet on April 30 to select students who will receive HiCap services in the 2021-2022 school year.

The Multidisciplinary Selection Committee is made up of teachers, principals, a school psychologist, and district Highly Capable program staff. In accordance with state requirements, the committee makes identification decisions for services using multiple objective criteria to identify students who are among the most highly capable.

Decision letters (identification or non-identification) will be mailed to families of all referred students by May 17.

The families of all referred students must accept or appeal the HiCap decision by June 1.

• If the student was identified for HiCap, the family must return signed acceptance letters.
• If the student was not identified for HiCap, the family may submit an appeal form.

The Multidisciplinary Selection Committee will review all appeals on June 16 and communicate the decision in writing to families by June 21.