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The
Accelerated Progress Program (APP), Spectrum, and Advanced Learning
Opportunities (ALO) programs undergo a Seattle Public School
certification process.
Buildings housing APP,
Spectrum, and ALO programs are designated by the District and
undergo the certification process through the Advanced Learning
office.
Buildings are
designated through the Program Placement Committee to provide APP
and Spectrum programs.
Any
elementary or middle school may opt to become an Advanced Learning
Opportunities (ALO) site and undergo the certification process.
Becoming an ALO site means that staff at the building have made a
commitment to serve the needs of advanced learners. Advanced
learners are students identified by the district through the
testing process as academically highly gifted or academically
gifted (qualified to enroll in the Accelerated Progress program
and/or Spectrum), as well as teacher-identified students.
Teacher-identified students are students that teachers and
parents/families believe are ready to participate in the rigorous
and accelerated curriculum provided through the ALO
program.
Requirements to
become a certified program include the following.
1. Meet with Advanced Learning Administration to
discuss the certification process. This can happen at any time
during the school year. This meeting could include the BLT and/or
the building staff.
2. Hold
staff meetings with Advanced Learning to discuss current
practices for meeting the needs of advanced learners. This
discussion includes an analysis of the service delivery model and
the extent to which curriculum is accelerated and rigorous in
content. For buildings that already provide a program, discussions
focus primarily on analyzing current practice and identifying areas
of strength and those needing strengthening. For buildings new to
Advanced Learning, professional development is typically provided
to staff. The professional development focuses on the nature and
needs of students who are academically gifted/highly gifted as well
as advanced learners, and curricular, assessment, and instructional
practices for best serving student learning and social/emotional
needs. This can happen at any time during the school
year.
3. Develop
an ALO Committee that includes staff and parents working
together to formulate a certification document called the ALO Plan.
This can happen at any time during the school year, but if the goal
is to provide the program during the next school year, buildings
are encouraged to complete this and the remaining tasks no later
than mid-September to make the mid-October enrollment
date.
The
certification document includes three components: model
description; "Best Practice" strategies used to
differentiation and accelerate math/reading; and enrichment
opportunities
4. Complete
an ALO Plan that reflects the three components which include:
ALO model; ALO strategies for acceleration; and enrichment
opportunities. Students are identified for acceleration in reading
and math. The ALO Plan should reflect the differentiation
strategies used to accelerate these two content areas. The ALO Plan
can include other content areas if a school chooses. Advanced
Learning provides support throughout this process. This plan can
happen at any time during the school year, but if the goal is to
provide the program during the next school year, buildings are
encouraged to complete this and the remaining tasks no later than
mid-October.
5. Advanced Learning Team interview and site
observation. Advanced Learning visits the schools and
interviews team members. The interview and site observation can
happen at any time during the school year, but if the goal is to
provide the program during the next school year, buildings are
encouraged to complete this no later than mid-September.
6. Review of
ALO Plan by Advanced Learning Team. Advanced Learning staff and
central administrators review materials. The ALO plan should
include the service model, strategies used and enrichment
opportunities offered. The Advanced Learning Team makes the final
determination of certification and next steps. This review can
happen at any time during the school year, but if the goal is to
provide the program during the next school year, the certification
team needs to receive this information mid-September to allow time
for the information to be analyzed and submitted for the enrollment
guide in early October.
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