Identification and Eligibility
Identification and Eligibility Process 2023-24
At SPS we are committed to honor each student’s strengths while implementing a holistic evaluation of the existing and available data and information.
In the past two years, we have improved the way decisions are made and who is eligible for Advanced Learning services. The AL department is committed to serve students, particularly Black, Brown, and Native American students.
Effective July 23, 2023, a new section was passed in Senate Bill 5072 relating to advancing equity in the identification for services. The legislature has directed school districts to prioritize equitable identification of low-income students for participating in highly capable programs and services. Learn more about RCW 28A.185.030.
At SPS, it all begins with the Universal Screening review for students in grades 1-8.
The Universal Screening is a complete review of current and available student educational record data matched to specific criteria and benchmarks. It is structured to provide a holistic evaluation of each student’s strengths and a pattern of high academic achievement.
Multiple pathways for identification are used and the pathways are different to meet the characteristics of Advanced Learner and Highly Capable students who:
- Qualify for Free and Reduced-Price Lunch
- Receive McKinney-Vento Act services
- Qualify for Special Education services
- Are Multilingual Learners
- Qualify under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Show a need for services and do not have all required baseline data.
The data sources to identify students for AL or HC services may include, but are not limited to:
- Academic assessments from current and previous school year
- Demonstrated Performance in the classroom provided by teaching staff
- Current gradebook or report card
- Strengths, talents, and interests reported by student’s educators and parents/guardians. A questionnaire will be available in the Fall.
Additional data if applicable:
- Language acquisition assessment for students receiving multilingual services; and
- Additional assessments in a student educational record that were used as part of a SPS Special Education evaluation, which resulted in a student receiving an individualized education program (IEP)
Our youngest students benefit from spending their first full school year (kindergarten) developing a pattern of high performance in the classroom. Beginning 2023-24, SPS kindergarten students will not be part of the formal process of HC or AL identification. In their first grade year, students will participate in the Universal Screening process for HC or AL eligibility decisions. Assessments and report cards from their kindergarten year, along with fall data from first grade will be used in their first Universal Screening.
Throughout the school year, teachers will get to know each kindergarten student and implement strategies from the Neighborhood School Model that provides high quality instruction with opportunities for every child to grow in an engaging, challenging, rewarding, and identity-affirming environment.
We acknowledge the important and essential role parents/guardians have in the academic and social emotional outcomes of students. The Advanced Learning department offers parents/guardians the option to opt out their student from participating in the 2023-24 Identification and Eligibility process. The Opt-Out form will be available September 20 – October 31, 2023.
Highly Capable (HC) Services – By early February, parents/guardians will be notified by a letter when their student(s) are found eligible for HC services. Parents/guardians will need to provide consent for services using the Consent Form within 20 days of receiving the letter. All this information and the Consent Form will be included in the notification letter.
Advanced Learner (AL) Services – By early February, parents/guardians will be notified by a letter when their student(s) are found eligible for AL services. Parents/guardians can appeal the decision. Parents/guardians have 10 business day after the date marked in their notification letter to appeal. All this information will be included in the notification letter.
There are two different types of appeals, conditional and identification. A parent/guardian must select one appeal type and provide additional or needed information before the appeal deadline: within 10 school days of receiving the notice of eligibility.
The appeals form will be available during the Appeals window, February 6 to February 20, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
The data collected and evaluated during this year’s Universal Screening is from Fall 2022 through the first assessment window of 2023-24 school year. To be automatically eligible for HC services, students must meet all baseline criteria in both Math and Reading.
Please click through the tabs below to see baseline eligibility criteria and additional data that will be considered for each grade level.
Math Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Reading Baseline Eligibility:
- Two standardized test scores (MAP)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
- One standardized test score (DIBELS)
- 75 percentile or higher
Additional Data to be Considered:
If your student does not meet the baseline eligibility criteria, multiple pathways are considered using additional data. These additional measures help us gain a comprehensive understanding of each student’s academic journey and potential need for services:
- Achieving 2 years worth of growth or more than two years on standardized tests (MAP) compared to peers
- Grades in Math and Reading of 3.6 or higher
- Indication from educational staff that the student can be successful in math 2+ years above their grade and/or reading 1+ year above their grade
- Lexile scores indicating student is performing well above grade level
Math Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Reading Baseline Eligibility:
- Two standardized test scores (MAP)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
- One standardized test score (DIBELS)
- 75 percentile or higher
Additional Data to be Considered:
If your student does not meet the baseline eligibility criteria, multiple pathways are considered using additional data. These additional measures help us gain a comprehensive understanding of each student’s academic journey and potential need for services:
- Achieving 2 years worth of growth or more than two years on standardized tests (MAP) compared to peers
- Grades in Math and Reading of 3.6 or higher
- Indication from educational staff that the student can be successful in math 2+ years above their grade and/or reading 1+ year above their grade
- Lexile scores indicating student is performing well above grade level
Math Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Reading Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Additional Data to be Considered:
If your student does not meet the baseline eligibility criteria, multiple pathways are considered using additional data. These additional measures help us gain a comprehensive understanding of each student’s academic journey and potential need for services:
- Achieving 2 years worth of growth or more than two years on standardized tests (MAP) compared to peers
- Grades in Math and Reading of 3.6 or higher
- Indication from educational staff that the student can be successful in math 2+ years above their grade and/or reading 1+ year above their grade
- Lexile scores indicating student is performing well above grade level
Math Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Reading Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Additional Data to be Considered:
If your student does not meet the baseline eligibility criteria, multiple pathways are considered using additional data. These additional measures help us gain a comprehensive understanding of each student’s academic journey and potential need for services:
- Achieving 2 years worth of growth or more than two years on standardized tests (MAP) compared to peers
- Grades in Math and Reading of 3.6 or higher
- Indication from educational staff that the student can be successful in math 2+ years above their grade and/or reading 1+ year above their grade
- Lexile scores indicating student is performing well above grade level
Math Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Reading Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Additional Data to be Considered:
If your student does not meet the baseline eligibility criteria, multiple pathways are considered using additional data. These additional measures help us gain a comprehensive understanding of each student’s academic journey and potential need for services:
- Achieving 2 years worth of growth or more than two years on standardized tests (MAP) compared to peers
- Grades in Math and Reading of 3.6 or higher
- Indication from educational staff that the student can be successful in math 2+ years above their grade and/or reading 1+ year above their grade
- Lexile scores indicating student is performing well above grade level
Math Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Reading Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Additional Data to be Considered:
If your student does not meet the baseline eligibility criteria, multiple pathways are considered using additional data. These additional measures help us gain a comprehensive understanding of each student’s academic journey and potential need for services:
- Total number of A’s in most recent Math and ELA
- Summative responses on the Demonstrated Performance Tool (DPT) that highlight strengths in applying skills across various learning environments
- Indications of strengths aligned with the ‘literacy standards’
- Documentation that shows students performing above or exceeding grade-level standards
- Evidence of strengths in writing that demonstrate subject-based knowledge, when applicable
- Achieving actual growth of more than two years on standardized tests (SBA) compared to peers
- Grades in Math and Reading of 3.6 or higher
- Lexile scores indicating student is performing well above grade level
Math Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Reading Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
- 88 percentile or higher for AL
Additional Data to be Considered:
If your student does not meet the baseline eligibility criteria, multiple pathways are considered using additional data. These additional measures help us gain a comprehensive understanding of each student’s academic journey and potential need for services:
- Total number of A’s in most recent Math and ELA
- Summative responses on the Demonstrated Performance Tool (DPT) that highlight strengths in applying skills across various learning environments
- Indications of strengths aligned with the ‘literacy standards’
- Documentation that shows students performing above or exceeding grade-level standards
- Evidence of strengths in writing that demonstrate subject-based knowledge, when applicable
- Achieving actual growth of more than two years on standardized tests (SBA) compared to peers
- Grades in Math and Reading of 3.6 or higher
- Lexile scores indicating student is performing well above grade level
Math Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
Reading Baseline Eligibility:
- Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher for HC
In grade 8, we only identify students for Highly Capable services.
Additional Data to be Considered:
If your student does not meet the baseline eligibility criteria, multiple pathways are considered using additional data. These additional measures help us gain a comprehensive understanding of each student’s academic journey and potential need for services:
- Total number of A’s in most recent Math and ELA
- Summative responses on the Demonstrated Performance Tool (DPT) that highlight strengths in applying skills across various learning environments
- Indications of strengths aligned with the ‘literacy standards’
- Documentation that shows students performing above or exceeding grade-level standards
- Evidence of strengths in writing that demonstrate subject-based knowledge, when applicable
- Achieving actual growth of more than two years on standardized tests (SBA) compared to peers
- Grades in Math and Reading of 3.6 or higher
- Lexile scores indicating student is performing well above grade level
Eligibility and Appeals Timeline 2023-24
Updated information available on AL website. Notification Letter to 1st-8th grade families about the AL Universal Screening.
September 2023
Updated information available on AL website. Notification Letter to 1st-8th grade families about the AL Universal Screening.
Parent/Guardian Survey and
Opt-Out Form are available.
September 20 – October 31, 2023
Parent/Guardian Survey and
Opt-Out Form are available.
Demonstrated Performance Tool completed by teaching staff for 1st-8th grade students.
November-December 2023
Demonstrated Performance Tool completed by teaching staff for 1st-8th grade students.
Universal Screening for 1st-8th grade students.
January 2024
Universal Screening for 1st-8th grade students.
Eligibility decision letters are available in The Source and emailed to families.
February 3-6, 2024
Eligibility decision letters are available in The Source and emailed to families.
Families can submit an appeal for 1st-8th grade students.
February 3-20, 2024
Families can submit an appeal for 1st-8th grade students.
The MSC will review each appeal and provide a written decision to the parent/guardian within 25 school days of the receipt of the appeal form and all documentation/proof.
February 20-27, 2024
The MSC will review each appeal and provide a written decision to the parent/guardian within 25 school days of the receipt of the appeal form and all documentation/proof.
Appeal final eligibility decision letters are sent to families.
February 29–March 7
Appeal final eligibility decision letters are sent to families.
Parents provide consent for Highly Capable services.
March 1-29, 2024
Parents provide consent for Highly Capable services.