We, as a community, believe highly capable students are those who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences, or environments. Outstanding abilities are seen within students’ general intellectual
aptitudes, specific academic abilities, and/or creative productivities within a specific domain. These students are present not only in the general populace but are present within all protected classes. If you are interested in having your child tested for this program, please ask your building administrator for a Highly Capable referral form.
The following behaviors are often observed in highly capable students. It is unlikely that a student will demonstrate all these behaviors. If a child almost always displays several of these behaviors, please complete a Highly Capable referral form.
- Make connections with what is already known
- Tries to apply new information to other contexts
- Learns new information easily
- Remembers information in cast quantities easily
- Makes generalizations and draws conclusions that summarize complex information easily
- Can orient self and figures in space easily
- Pursues interests to satisfy own curiosity
- Wants to know why and how
- Is alert, observant beyond years
- Easily understands how others feel or think
- Follows own ideas, rather than others'
- Uses own set of values to dictate behavior
- Upset with sad, negative, hurtful events related through some form of communication (book, movie, etc.)
- Easily hurt by others' negative actions
- Learned to speak and read considerably earlier than age mates
- Uses extensive vocabulary
- Highly motivated and skilled in a specific subject area or domain
- Stays attentive and alert when new or complex information is being given
- Is not balanced in skills and abilities
- Very good in some things but not everything
- Approaches ideas from a number of perspectives
- Produces large numbers of ideas easily
Adapted from the Parent Inventory for Finding Potential by Karen Rogers, 2002
If the child almost always displays several of the behaviors from the list, please complete a Highly Capable referral form and return it to:
The Highly Capable Program Office
Attn: Debbie Alexander
Kiona-Benton City School District
1107 Grace Ave.
Benton City, WA 99320
Notice to Parents of Right to Appeal:
If for any reason, it is determined that a child does not qualify for the Highly Capable program, the parent has the right to appeal in writing to the School District Highly Capable Program Director (Joe Lloyd, Kiona-Benton City School District, 1107 Grace Ave., Benton City, WA 99320) and schedule an appointment with him to discuss the concerns. He in turn will forward that information to the selection committee to reevaluate their decision. If the parent is not satisfied with the determination of the committee, they may request an appointment with the School Principal to discuss the concern. If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached at that point, the parent may appeal the decision to the School District Superintendent who will meet with them to discuss the issue.