Transfer and Summer Eligibility Process

Advanced Learning Transfer and Summer Eligibility process Spring 2023

A new-to-Seattle family has options regarding transferring into Seattle Public Schools (SPSSeattle Public Schools) and accessing Advanced Learning services.

If your student is registering for the first time at SPS for the 2023-24 school year, but has not participated in a public school Highly Capable (HC) or gifted program, they can participate in the SPSSeattle Public Schools Summer Eligibility Process.

SPSSeattle Public Schools no longer uses outside cognitive testing to determine eligibility, unless present in a student’s IEP. Instead, eligibility decisions are based on the Multi-Disciplinary Selection Committee’s (MSC) review of multiple kinds of evidence or data. The MSC staff from multiple SPSSeattle Public Schools departments, including educators and building leaders.

If your student is transferring from another public school HC or gifted program, please submit documentation for evaluation. Students must first be enrolled with the district for the 2022-23 school year.

The MSC will review the documentation and make a determination regarding eligibility for AL or HC services.

Documentation should consist of:

Please first submit the Transfer Request for students with a pre-existing HC or Gifted eligibility
Proof of enrollment in a public school HC or gifted program 
Test results used to place the student in the program
Most current achievement (math and reading) scores

Send supporting documentation to advlearn@seattleschools.org.

If your student is registering for the first time at SPS  for the 2023-24 school year, or will enter SPS after January 2023, but has not participated in a public school HC or gifted program, they can participate in the summer evaluation.  

Dates for the 2023-24 summer eligibility process will be posted on the Advanced Learning web page in early Spring 2023. The 2022-23 summer eligibility process closed June 2022.

Families can expect predictability from year to year and anticipate the need for submission of: 

Most current achievement (math and reading) scores  
Standardized test scores from the 2022-23 school year 
Grades
Most recent performance data (documents to support need for services)

School Choice and Summer Eligibilities

More information about School ChoiceStudents may choose to apply for another attendance area school, including K-8 form submissions will be provided before Open EnrollmentOpen Enrollment is the annual four-week period where students may first apply closure.