School City of Mishawaka recognizes that some students perform at, or show the potential to perform at an outstanding level of accomplishment in the core academic areas of language arts and mathematics. These students are found in all socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, and this school corporation recognizes the need to identify such students through systematic, on-going procedures. The high ability program provides a supportive learning climate that will enrich learning so students can maximize academic potential and develop emotionally and socially in order to be contributing members of society.

Identification

In Indiana, students can be identified as high ability based on achievement and/or aptitude. We are required to give nationally normed assessments to test for high ability. We use i-Ready & ILEARN to measure achievement and CogAT to measure aptitude.

We have selection committees that determine which students are high ability. The cut-off scores for i-Ready, CogAT, and ILEARN are the 96th percentile (using local or national norms, whichever are more inclusive). Because young students change and grow, there are three times in the elementary experience that we formally identify students who have high ability: kindergarten, second, and sixth grade.

The following information outlines the process:

• Kindergarten-Second Grade high ability identification process-The parents/guardians of newly identified students will be notified in April.
• Third-Fifth Grade high ability identification process-The parents/guardians of newly identified students will be notified in April.
• Identifying students who are new to the School City of Mishawaka: Please send recent achievement and aptitude test reports to your child's school so that the correct placement is made for your child.
• Parents/guardians may request test reports/results by emailing the SCM High Ability Program at scmhighability@mishawaka.k12.in.us. 
• Parent/guardian appeal forms for grades K and 2 can be requested by emailing the SCM High Ability Program at scmhighability@mishawaka.k12.in.us. The forms need to be sent to building principals.  The forms are due by May 1. This process allows parents/guardians to request additional review if the child is very close to a cut-off score.
  
  

Programs

• LEA (Language Enrichment & Acceleration) Program for Grades K-6 ~ All Elementary Schools
  A combination of differentiated instruction and problem-based curriculum materials provides an accelerated ELA program that is based on individual student needs.  Emphasis is placed on creative and critical thinking, as well as basic skills. Cross-grade level placements will be made when appropriate.
  
  
• MAC (Mathematics Acceleration & Challenge) Program for Grades K-6 ~ All Elementary Schools
  A combination of differentiated instruction and problem-based curriculum materials provides an accelerated math program that is based on individual student needs.  Emphasis is placed on problem solving and critical thinking, as well as basic skills. Cross-grade level placements will be made when appropriate. 
  
  
• Project DEEP (Developing Exceptional Educational Potential) for Grades 1-6 ~ Twin Branch Elementary School & Liberty Elementary School
  Project DEEP is in an inclusive environment that provides an accelerated and enriched core curriculum for students who perform at or show the potential for performing at outstanding levels of academic achievement.

Programs

SCM recognizes that children with high abilities may have additional affective needs resulting from their increased capacity to think beyond their years, greater intensity in response, combinations of unique interests, personality characteristics, and conflicts that differ from those of their peers.  The goal of SCM is to meet the social and emotional needs of all high ability learners that must be completed to maximize their potential.  SCM will implement this plan to nurture the social and emotional needs of K-12 high ability students.  This proactive approach will facilitate the development of their high potential and promote positive adjustment. 

Please click here to access the SCM SEL High Ability Plan.