Program for the Academically Talented (PAT)

Services for Highly Capable Students - Elementary School

For information contact the Doug Poage, Carnation Elementary Principal
poaged@riverview.wednet.edu | Phone: 844-4553 or Mary Jacobson, PAT Program Assistant jacobsonm@riverview.wednet.edu Phone: 844-4529.

Mission Statement

The primary focus for the Program for the Academically Talented (PAT) is to help highly academically talented students achieve at their optimal level in their identified talent area(s). Teachers are committed to providing challenging curriculum and to maintaining high expectations for the PAT students. Placing PAT students in classes with more rigorous course work helps teachers provide appropriate cognitive challenge.

Description of Services

The Elementary Program for the Academically Talented begins at second grade. This program uses an option based service model. Once accepted into the program children continue to be enrolled until the end of fifth grade unless there are concerns with the placement. The parent of a qualified child may yearly apply for the option that best meets his/her child's needs. The fol1owing options are included within this model:

Option 1 - PAT Full Day Class

PAT students attend a full day, every day class. This class is currently based at Carnation Elementary.

The full day class provides curriculum acceleration, opportunities to study concepts in greater depth and cognitive interaction for second through fifth grade PAT students. Critical thinking skills, the arts and technology are infused across the curriculum. Students are part of the Carnation Elementary community; they are included in assemblies, recesses, school projects, services by various specialists and grade level field trips. Students are selected for this class based on a PAT matrix ranking, with the highest students being selected. A second-third class and a fourth-fifth class are provided. Once selected for this class, students continue from year to year, unless parents and/or staff determine the class is no longer appropriate for the child. This is an accelerated and challenging class with a fun child-centered focus.

Transportation for Full Day Class

Transportation to the full day class at Carnation is provide either by the parent or by riding district provided transportation. The PAT bus routes are Route 40, Route 49, and Route 50 (part of Carnation Elementary's Bus Run)

Option 2 - PAT Cluster Classes

Within the cluster class option PAT students are clustered within one or two classrooms per grade level at each school site. The classroom teacher determines and provides daily curriculum and instruction within the PAT framework. The clustering of PAT students provides them with some cognitive peer interaction and allows the teacher to group them as appropriate. PAT cluster teachers receive a grant that they may use for training, materials, substitutes to allow them to spend more time with PAT students, and/or curriculum planning for their PAT students. Parents tend to choose this model so that their children can stay at their home school. This is a teacher driven program and each individual teacher determines the program within his/her class in accordance with the PAT framework. This can vary from year to year.

Option 3 - Regular Classes

Parents may enroll their PAT eligible child in a regular classroom following the normal school procedures. The regular classroom teacher provides the program of instruction within his/her normal classroom model and is responsible for meeting the needs of the children within the class. Although no direct PAT support is provided, PAT materials may be checked out of the school library.

Teacher Support Services

Training opportunities are offered.
Materials and alternative curriculum are available or can be ordered.
Release time for planning or for gifted education conferences is available.
Consultation services are available upon request.

Beyond Elementary School

Services for highly academically talented students are also provided at the middle school and the high school.

At the end of fifth grade every student in the district is considered for inclusion in accelerated math classes and for inclusion in the Tolt Honors/Advanced Placement Options within the regular Language Arts classes. The testing is done through the standard district tests in fourth and fifth grade. Students are not automatically continued in PAT from the elementary, they must re-qualify. Any student may chose to attempt the Tolt Language Arts Honors options whether or not they qualify for PAT. Tolt also offers an eighth grade Honors Language Arts class and advance placement in math.

At the high school level students may take honors classes and/or receive college credit for their work through advanced placement courses at Cedarcrest and/or Running Start classes at a community college.

How are students identified for PAT?

Parents, teachers and community members refer students for the RSD Elementary PAT Program, using the PAT Referral Packet. The following criteria are used to determine whether or not a student qualifies for PAT placement:

§ Scores from an intelligence or cognitive abilities test (at least one cognitive score at the 90%ile or higher) and

§ Scores from a standardized achievement test (at lease one achievement area score at the 96%ile or higher)

§ Information from a Parent Questionnaire

§ Information from a Teacher Questionnaire

§ Team recommendation from PAT Selection Committee

The assessment tools help to determine whether or not the grade level curriculum can adequately challenge the students. Students whose scores are in the exceptional range in either Reading Comprehension or Math are considered for placement in PAT program options designed to provide a more rigorous level of challenge in the student's specific area of expertise.

The Identification Process

The identification process begins with referrals in late November and December each year. The first round of achievement testing (CAT) takes place in January and the second round of cognitive testing (coGAT), by invitation only for those who qualified (at the 90%ile or higher on at least one area of the CAT), in early February. PAT Placement Teams will then meet in February/March and make recommendations/selections for the program. Parents are then notified in March and those qualifying are invited to a classroom visit in April for the Full Day Program. Acceptance letters must be received in the PAT office by mid-May.

Students are selected for placement for the following year. The referral process and test dates are publicized in the local papers and school newsletters. Parents are notified of placement decisions results typically by the end of March of each year.

PAT Timeline

§ November 8, 2007 – December 14, 2007 - Referral Period

§ PAT Parent Information Night – Nov. 8^th 2007 @ CE Library -7pm

§ Saturday, January 12^th – 9am-12pm – Round 1 of Testing (all students)

§ Saturday, February 2^nd – 9am-12pm – Round 2 of Testing (those qualifying to continue)

§ February - Test Scoring

§ February/March - Placement Team Meetings

§ April – PAT Classroom Visitation (by invitation only)

§ May – Confirmation of acceptance

§ September - PAT services begin

Why We Test

PAT testing is used to identify students, who have an accelerated learning rate or complex thinking style, so we can maximize their learning experiences by providing appropriate challenge.

Highly capable students need to be able to:

§ move through the curriculum at a faster pace

§ apply research and project development skills

§ interact with their cognitive peers daily

§ explore issues, themes, and ideas that connect various subjects

Application Packet and Information – 2008-2009 (in .PDF format)

“Is PAT Right for You?” & “Common Characteristics of Highly Capable Students”

Site Content