Gifted Students & Overriding
Class Placement Recommendations
Peak to Peak has an Appropriate Learning Policy (ALPs Policy), which addresses
teaching strategies for gifted students. Please see the Curriculum Handbook for the
policy.
Peak to Peak encourages students to take challenging courses, including accelerated
paced classes at elementary, honors level courses through middle school and high
school and Advanced Placement courses at high school. Students who commit to the
effort required by higher level courses within the sequence of the curriculum pathways
can achieve academic excellence.
The ALPs coordinator is the first contact for K-12 teachers who need information about
identifying gifted students, how gifted students learn differently, how to differentiate,
curriculum sources, writing personal learning plans, parents’ questions about their gifted
child and planning units incorporating pre-testing, compacting, accelerated learning and
learning contracts. Additionally, the ALPs coordinator has information about
accommodations and support for twice exceptional students. Whenever possible, the
ALPs coordinator should be involved in placement decisions involving gifted students
and any parent meetings concerning the needs of a gifted student.
Peak to Peak will pre-test in subject areas deemed necessary. For instance, at the
elementary level, math, reading and spelling are common subject areas for pre-testing.
Additional subject areas may be pre-tested at the middle and high school level. At the
elementary level, math classes and language arts classes will be scheduled at the same
period to facilitate students changing classes for appropriate placement. Not all
placements are across grades, as some may be placed in a more advanced group within
their grade level. Students may take Advanced Placement (AP) classes at the high
school level with appropriate mastery of pre-requisites.
Students are expected to achieve goals commensurate with expectations of their grade
and/or group placements. Occasionally, skipping or repeating a grade may more
appropriately place a student. These decisions are made after careful evaluation and
discussions with the student, parents, teacher and principal.
As part of registering for core courses, students receive placement recommendations
from teachers of their current core courses. Teachers make these recommendations
based on the best interests of their students, considering all aspects of their academic
progress and development. Though it is not suggested for students or parents to request
that the recommendation be changed, middle and high school families have the option of
overriding a recommendation to enroll a student in a different course after following
proper procedures.
When a student enrolls in a higher-level course than is recommended, it is possible that
the depth of the student’s learning may be compromised. In such a case, private tutoring
may be needed in order for the student to keep up with the pace of the course.
Advanced Placement and honors courses maintain a fast pace and a challenging level
of instruction to accommodate the fastest learners in a subject, who are also willing to
work hard. For example, Advanced Placement courses typically require a minimum of
two hours of homework daily, on top of a student’s additional coursework.
If a parent has a question about his or her child’s placement, Peak to Peak strives to
work together as parents and teachers to meet the needs of each student in an
atmosphere of partnership and teachers are to provide information to the family about
the process for a possible placement change.
In elementary, previous mastery must be demonstrated before a trial period will be
permitted. In the case where a faster paced group may be more suitable, the individual
student plan may include a trial period for placement, a schedule of check-in points for
the purpose of evaluation and follow-up conferences to assess the suitability of the
placement in meeting the student's needs. If it is determined that the placement is
appropriate, the student will remain in the group or grade level. If it is agreed upon that
the placement is inappropriate, the student will be moved to a more suitable option. In
cases where an agreement concerning placement cannot be reached, the Principal,
ALPS Resource Teacher and other qualified professionals will be brought in to evaluate
the situation and determine final placement.
If a middle or high school student’s parent wishes to override a teacher’s
recommendation for student placement, he or she should contact the counseling office
to schedule a mandatory meeting with the parent, student, current teacher, teacher of
the advanced class, counselor and administrator. At that meeting, the parent will make
his/her case and hear the teacher’s reasoning behind the recommendation. The student
and parent will address the teacher's comments. If the parent opts for the override after
hearing all sides, he/she will be asked to sign off on the following statement:
Having heard and understood the information articulated regarding our
child’s recommended class placement, we choose to exercise the option
to place our child in a different class, against the recommendation of the
school. In the event that our child needs additional support in order to
succeed, we agree to bear the burden of providing that support in the
form of private tutoring or outside instruction.
PEAK TO PEAK CHARTER SCHOOL
DECISION TO OVERRIDE
PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATION
Having heard and understood the information articulated regarding our child’s
recommended class placement, we choose to exercise the option to place our
child in a different class, against the recommendation of the school. In the event
that our child needs additional support in order to succeed, we agree to bear the
burden of providing that support in the form of private tutoring or outside
instruction.
______________________________________
School Recommended Course
___________________
Semester(s)/Year
______________________________________
Course Determined by Parent
___________________
Semester(s)/Year
______________________________________
Parent’s Signature
___________________
Date
______________________________________
Parent’s Signature
___________________
Date
______________________________________
Student’s Signature
___________________
Date