Gifted Enhancement Plan
Program Services – Enhancement of Push In Program (GATE) (page 1)
WAC 392-170-078
The GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) Programs in Tacoma Public Schools vary in the Instructional
Model and Service Code based on the enrollment at each individual neighborhood school. This program
is for grades 3 – 5.
Name of Program
Grades
Description
GATE (Gifted and
Talented
Education)
Instructional Model
and Code
33 – Self-Contained
& possible MultiAge
3-5
WA-Gifted
Classroom
GATE (Gifted and
Talented
Education)
The grouping of such
students into a
neighborhood school
centered highly capable
program.
33 – Self-Contained
& possible MultiAge
3-5
The grouping of such
students into a
neighborhood school
centered highly capable
& high performance
placement program.
1) Qualified
Placement: WA
Gifted
The cluster grouping of
such students in the
regular classroom with
differentiation and
enrichment provided by
their regular classroom
teacher.
1) Qualified
Placement: WA
Gifted
Blended
Classroom
WA-Gifted & High
Performance
Placement
GATE (Gifted and
Talented
Education)
Regular Classroom
with three distinct
levels:
WA-Gifted, High
Performance, and
students in the
average range.
32 – Services or
Programs provided
in the regular
classroom
3-5
The model will be the
SchoolWide Cluster
Grouping Model which is
approved by National
Association for Gifted
Children.
Qualification
Criteria
1) Qualified
Placement: WA
Gifted
3) High
Performance
Placement
3) High
Performance
Placement
5) No Placement The student’s data
does not qualify
them for Highly
Capable Services.
* Students of provisional status may be recommended by the MDSC for any GATE model above.
Gifted Enhancement Plan
Program Services – Enhancement of Push In Program (GATE) (page 2)
WAC 392-170-078
Placement Criteria:
1) (Qualified Placement: WA Gifted) The student qualifies under the criteria of most highly capable in
the State of Washington (WA-Gifted) and will be placed in the program. The student scores at least
three stanines above average on an IQ test which is a score of 130 or above as defined by the bell curve
and/or a NNAT2 score of 121 or above which begins at the 90th percentile. Tacoma Public School places
these elementary students in the pull-out enrichment JAWS program or neighborhood GATE program.
3) (High Performance Placement) Students who have demonstrated high performance and consistently
achieve above grade level, have strong task completion and embrace challenges but for whom the
cognitive assessment data does not support qualification for Highly Capable Services. These students
may benefit from and contribute to the unique learning environment of a GATE blended classroom or
accelerated classroom as space is available. The student scores at least 2 stanines above average on an
IQ test which is a score of 115 or above as defined by the bell curve or a NNAT2 score of 111 which
begins at the 75% percentile. In addition to the above score, the multi-assessment identification packet
plays a vital role in the identification of such students in this group. Tacoma Public Schools places these
elementary students in the neighborhood GATE program.
5) (No Placement) The student’s data does not qualify them for Highly Capable Services.
Gifted Enhancement Plan
Program Services – Adjustments to Push In Program for Profound , Very Superior Highly
Capable Students - (SAIL)
WAC 392-170-078
The Tacoma Public Schools currently has a SAIL Program for Very Superior, Profound Highly Capable
students. Beginning January 2015 the reliability of the SAIL program will be precise with the
exceptionally profound qualification criteria of students placed in the SAIL program. This reliability
method may cause a shift in the number of SAIL students and/or classes over the course of the Gifted
Enhancement Plan.
Name of Program
SAIL ( SelfContained
Advanced Individual
Learning)
Instructional Model
and Code
33 – Self-Contained
& Multi-Age
Grades
Description
Qualification Criteria
3-5
The grouping of such
students into a full-time
regional self-contained
(possibly multi-age)
classroom with peers of
parallel ability.
2) Qualified
Placement –
Profound, Very
Superior
(see below)
Locations:
Statistically, these students are found in the general population between 1: 1,000 to 1: 1,000,000.
There are not enough students at each school to constitute a class, therefore, regional host schools will
be identified and recommended throughout the district by the Transportation Department. The chart
below outlies the most efficient SAIL locations for the district as recommended by the Transportation
Department.
# of possible SAIL classes based
on enrollment
1
2
3
School Sites Recommended by the Transportation Department
Franklin
Franklin/Mann
OR
Jefferson/Blix
Pt. Defiance/Lister/Browns Point
Test Score Reporting:
In an effort to provide accurate assessment data for the district, students in SAIL classrooms will have
their assessment scores reported at their neighborhood school and not the regional location they are
attending for all federal, state, and district annual reports.
Placement Criteria:
2) (Qualified Placement – Profound, Very Superior) The student qualifies under the criteria of the most
profoundly capable in the State of Washington (WA-Gifted). The student scores at least four stanines
above average on an IQ test which is a score of 145 or above as defined by the bell curve and/or a
NNAT2 score of 130 or above which begins at the 98th percentile. This student will be offered a regional
placement in a self -contained class with peers of the same ability level. Tacoma Public Schools places
these elementary students in the SAIL program.
Gifted Enhancement Plan
Program Services – Phase Out of Pull-Out Program (JAWS)
WAC 392-170-078
The Tacoma Public School District currently provides a JAWS Pull - Out Service Model Program for
Grades 3 – 5. In accordance with the Tacoma Public Schools Gifted Enhancement Plan , the JAWS pullout enrichment program will be phased out between 2015- 2017. The three year/three phase plan
based on transportation is provided in the chart below. The JAWS program will transition students into
GATE programs at their neighborhood schools by fall of 2017.
Name of Program
Instructional Model
and Code
Grades
Description
Qualification
Criteria
JAWS
(Joining Ability With
Subjects)
33- Pull Out Services
3-5
Once a week enrichment
pullout focusing on problem
solving, critical thinking,
creativity and development
research skills.
1) Qualified
Placement: WA Gifted
The model is Dr.
Renzulli : The
Enrichment Triad.
Phase
School Year
Fall of Implementation
of all GATE or SAIL
classes
Host School to
transition to GATE
Feeder Schools to
transition to GATE
Phase 1
2015-2016
Fall 2015
Phase 2
2016-2017
Fall 2016
Skyline
Fawcett
Bryant
DeLong
Geiger
Grant
Jefferson
McCarver
Pt. Defiance
Washington
Whittier
Arlington
Boze
Birney
Blix
Edison
Larchmont
Lister
Lyon
Manitou
Mann
Roosevelt
Stafford
Sheridan
Individual School Plans
Written and Teacher
Training provided
2014-2015
2015-2016
(see below)
Phase 3
2017-2018
Fall 2017
Lowell
Browns
Point
Franklin
Reed
Stanley
Whitman
Private
School
Students
C.Heights
2016-2017
Placement Criteria:
1) (Qualified Placement: WA Gifted) The student qualifies under the criteria of most highly capable in the State of
Washington (WA-Gifted) and will be placed in the program. The student scores at least three stanines above
average on an IQ test which is a score of 130 or above as defined by the bell curve and/or a NNAT2 score of 121 or
above which begins at the 90th percentile. Tacoma Public School places these elementary students in the pull-out
enrichment JAWS program or neighborhood GATE program.