Montesano School District

Excellence in Education

502 East Spruce Avenue Montesano, WA, 98563 United States

(360) 249-3942

Montesano is a community where people learn,
grow and work together.  With high-quality
instruction, every student, regardless of race, class,
language, or disability, can succeed. 

Montesano School District’s Highly Capable Program

Staff

Overview

Referral Form

Resources for Families

Highly Capable Program Student Evaluations:

The referral window for the 2024-25 school year is open from Monday, September 23rd to Friday, October 4th.  Referral forms are available in the school offices or online using the link provided above. Referrals received after the deadline will be considered for the following year. Referred students must return a signed permission slip by October 14th in order to be evaluated. These are available in the school offices.

 Evaluation Pathway and Timeline for 2024-25 School Year:

Step 1: Our Referral Window is open from Monday, September 23rd to Friday, October 4th.  Referrals received after October 4th will be considered for the following school year.  Permission to Evaluate Forms will be sent home to families and are due back by Monday, October 14th.  The Highly Capable Committee will conduct an initial data review of multiple objective parameters for referred students that includes past and present state and district assessments and teacher ratings scales. 

 **We have a universal screening step in grades 2 and 6: Second and Sixth grade students who score in the 95th %tile or above on their fall iReady benchmark assessment in either math or reading will automatically be referred for an evaluation.  Additionally, students in 6th grade with 2024 Smarter Balanced Assessment scores that rank in the top three of their class (in either math or reading) will be automatically referred for an evaluation.

Step 2: If a student is not selected to move forward to the next step, families will be notified by Friday, November 1st.  If they are selected to go to the next step, then the Highly Capable Program Coordinator will assemble a portfolio of evidence of high achievement or potential for high achievement (including but not limited to: work samples from extension/enrichment activities, classroom formal and informal assessments, district and state assessments, SBA interim tests,  family and teacher ratings scales, etc).  The Portfolio stage will occur during November.

Step 3: In November, the Committee will meet to review the portfolios and determine whether or not additional data from cognitive testing is necessary to make an identification decision.  Students and families will be notified of a final decision by November 25th.  

The Montesano School District is committed to meeting the needs of all learners.  If you feel that your student has demonstrated mastery of grade level content and needs opportunities for advanced learning, please reach out to your child's classroom teacher or the Highly Capable Program Coordinator.  Please contact Julie Aldrich at jaldrich@monteschools.org if you have further questions.

Students already enrolled in the Hicap Program do not retest each year.  

Students who are newly enrolled in the school district do not have to wait until the following school year to be evaluated. If they have enrolled after the fall referral window, they can still be referred.

Please contact Julie Aldrich at 249-4331 or jaldrich@monteschools.org if you have questions or would like more information about Highly Capable referrals or services.