Identification and Eligibility

Identification and Eligibility Process 2025-26

At SPS we are committed to honoring each student’s strengths while implementing a holistic evaluation of the existing and available data and information.

The SPS Highly Capable Services department is making updates starting in the 2025-26 school to better serve students who qualify for Highly Capable services.

What’s Changing:

Grade-Specific Universal Screening: Beginning in January 2026, the Universal Screening process will automatically include all students in 1st and 4th grade. Students in grades 2-3 and 5-8 may still be considered for HC Services but will need to be referred to by a parent/guardian or educator. View details about the referral process.
New Highly Capable Single Domain Identification: Students can now qualify for HC services by meeting baseline criteria in one subject—either reading or math. Single domain HC services will begin in the 2026-27 school year.
Advanced Learner Designation: SPS will no longer give new Advanced Learner designations. Students who already have this status will keep it through eighth grade, unless they qualify for HC services through the yearly identification process.
New Department Name: The Advanced Learning Department is now called the Department of Highly Capable (HC) Services.

Why These Changes?

Implementing a grade-specific universal screening process supports student success and is in alignment with Washington state law and other local school districts. Early identification helps schools recognize students’ learning differences and support needs. This allows timely interventions and enrichment opportunities that can greatly improve long-term outcomes.

The Advanced Learner designation was created for students who showed strength in one area but didn’t qualify for HC services. Now, a new state law allows students to qualify for HC services by meeting the criteria in just one subject.

Students who were previously identified as Advanced Learners will continue to receive high-quality, challenging instruction. This is outlined in every school’s Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP). The plan supports advanced learning through rigorous curriculum, enrichment opportunities, and differentiated instruction.

All schools are currently updating their CSIPs to reflect district-wide strategies. The Highly Capable Services department is prioritizing these strategies and providing professional learning to support our educators in meeting student needs

To view a school’s CSIP, visit their website and click into the “About” section, then click “Continuous School Improvement Plan and School Profile.”

Get Involved:

SPS is hosting engagement sessions this fall for families to share their experiences, insights, and ideas about HC services. After a brief presentation, families will participate in community conversations centered on current identification and service practices. This is also an opportunity to meet the HC team, including Dr. Paula Montgomery, the new SPS Director of Highly Capable Services.

Your input and perspectives at these sessions will help shape how the district supports students through HC programming, with a focus on ensuring equitable access and meaningful learning experiences for all.

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, potential for, and/or pattern of high academic achievement.

Multiple pathways for eligibility are used to meet the unique characteristics of 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

The data sources to identify students for Highly Capable 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
Most recent semester gradebook or report card for middle school students only. (ELA and Math)
Information provided by families using the referral form (grades 2,3,5, and 6-8)

We acknowledge the important and essential role parents/guardians have in the academic and social emotional outcomes of students. The Highly Capable services department offers parents/guardians of students in 1st and 4th grade only the option to opt out their student from participating in the 2025-26 universal screening process. The Opt-Out form will be available October 6 – November 30, 2025.

Parents/guardians will be notified of their student eligibility results by Feb. 4, 2026.

The appeals form will be available during the appeal process window in February 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

The data collected and evaluated during this year’s Universal Screening is from Fall 2024 through the first assessment window of 2025-26 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

Reading Baseline Eligibility:

Two standardized test scores (MAP)
- 95 percentile or higher
One standardized test score (DIBELS)
- 75 percentile or higher

Additional Data to be Considered:

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
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

If your student meets either the math or reading baseline, they will be eligible for single-domain HC eligibility.

Math Baseline Eligibility:

Three standardized test scores (MAP)
- 95 percentile or higher

Reading Baseline Eligibility:

Two standardized test scores (MAP)
- 95 percentile or higher
One standardized test score (DIBELS)
- 75 percentile or higher

Additional Data to be Considered:

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
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

If your student meets either the math or reading baseline, they will be eligible for single-domain HC eligibility.

Math Baseline Eligibility:

Three standardized test scores (MAP)
- 95 percentile or higher

Reading Baseline Eligibility:

Two standardized test scores (MAP)
- 95 percentile or higher

Additional Data to be Considered:

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
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

If your student meets either the math or reading baseline, they will be eligible for single-domain HC eligibility.

Math Baseline Eligibility:

Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher

Reading Baseline Eligibility:

Two standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher

Additional Data to be Considered:

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
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

Math Baseline Eligibility:

Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher

Reading Baseline Eligibility:

Two standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher

Additional Data to be Considered:

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
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

Math Baseline Eligibility:

Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher

Reading Baseline Eligibility:

Two standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher

Additional Data to be Considered:

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 actual growth of more than two years on standardized tests (MAP) compared to peers
Grades in Math and Reading of 3.6 or higher

If your student meets either the math or reading baseline, they will be eligible for single-domain HC eligibility.

Math Baseline Eligibility:

Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher

Reading Baseline Eligibility:

Two standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher

Additional Data to be Considered:

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 actual growth of more than two years on standardized tests (MAP) compared to peers
Grades in Math and Reading of 3.6 or higher

If your student meets either the math or reading baseline, they will be eligible for single-domain HC eligibility.

Math Baseline Eligibility:

Three standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher

Reading Baseline Eligibility:

Two standardized test scores (MAP/SBA)
- 95 percentile or higher

Additional Data to be Considered:

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 actual growth of more than two years on standardized tests (MAP) compared to peers
Grades in Math and Reading of 3.6 or higher

If your student meets either the math or reading baseline, they will be eligible for single-domain HC eligibility.

Eligibility and Appeals Timeline 2025-26

Letter to families in grades 1-8 about the HC changes

September 15, 2025

Letter to families in grades 1-8 about the HC changes

Parents/Guardians with students in 1st and 4 grade can opt out from participating in the annual universal screening process.

October 6 – November 30, 2025

Parents/Guardians with students in 1st and 4 grade can opt out from participating in the annual universal screening process.

Parents/guardians and teaching staff of students in grades 2, 3, 5, and 6–8 may refer their student to participate in the annual universal screening process

October 6 – November 30, 2025

Parents/guardians and teaching staff of students in grades 2, 3, 5, and 6–8 may refer their student to participate in the annual universal screening process

Teaching staff is invited to submit their input and recommendation using the Demonstrated Performance Tool (DPT) for students in grades 1st and 4th.

November 10 – December 19, 2025

Teaching staff is invited to submit their input and recommendation using the Demonstrated Performance Tool (DPT) for students in grades 1st and 4th.

Universal Screening decisions are made by the Multidisplinary Placement Committee (MPC)

January 12 – 16, 2026

Universal Screening decisions are made by the Multidisplinary Placement Committee (MPC)

Eligibility letters are available in The Source

February 7, 2026

Eligibility letters are available in The Source

Parents/guardians can submit an appeal for 1st-8th grade students only.

Feb 7 – 20, 2026

Parents/guardians can submit an appeal for 1st-8th grade students only.

Final appeal decisions are available in The Source

February 27, 2026

Final appeal decisions are available in The Source

Last day for parents/guardians to provide consent for Highly Capable services staring in the 2026-27 school year.

April 30, 2026

Last day for parents/guardians to provide consent for Highly Capable services staring in the 2026-27 school year.