PATHPATH

THE PROGRAM FOR ACADEMICALLY THE PROGRAM FOR ACADEMICALLY TALENTED AT HOPETALENTED AT HOPE

Lisa Frissora-DirectorLisa Frissora-Director

Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion

Types of Gifted StudentsTypes of Gifted Students

Talent Search ConceptTalent Search Concept

What is acceleration?What is acceleration?

Why take an out of grade level test like the Why take an out of grade level test like the ACT or SAT?ACT or SAT?

Why is it beneficial to take accelerated Why is it beneficial to take accelerated classes?classes?

PATH ProgramPATH Program

Distinction Distinction

Gifted: having extraordinary intellectual Gifted: having extraordinary intellectual ability and creativityability and creativity

Talented: having exceptional skills and Talented: having exceptional skills and ability in a specific area such as art, music, ability in a specific area such as art, music, science, and languagescience, and language

Intellectually giftedIntellectually gifted

Students who are exceptional learners.Students who are exceptional learners.

Creatively Gifted or TalentedCreatively Gifted or Talented

These students display their unique These students display their unique abilities within the framework of the visual abilities within the framework of the visual or performing arts.or performing arts.

Invisible giftedInvisible gifted

Members of diverse cultural populationsMembers of diverse cultural populations

Students with disabilities, especially learning, Students with disabilities, especially learning, behavior or psychomotor disabilitiesbehavior or psychomotor disabilities

Females-lower math and diminished abilities as Females-lower math and diminished abilities as adolescence progressesadolescence progresses

Academically TalentedAcademically Talented

Students who are academically advanced Students who are academically advanced grade levels beyond their peers.grade levels beyond their peers.

Types of programsTypes of programs

Resource programsResource programs

Self-containedSelf-contained

InclusionInclusion

How do you identify students who How do you identify students who are gifted and talented?are gifted and talented?

Topic OneTopic One

Talent SearchTalent SearchIn the early seventies, Dr. Julian Stanley of John In the early seventies, Dr. Julian Stanley of John Hopkins University used the SAT-The Scholastic Hopkins University used the SAT-The Scholastic Aptitude Test to identify junior high students who had Aptitude Test to identify junior high students who had exceptional mathematical or verbal reasoning ability.exceptional mathematical or verbal reasoning ability.

The study concluded that if students score at the level of The study concluded that if students score at the level of high school juniors or seniors they would benefit from high school juniors or seniors they would benefit from accelerated, challenging course work.accelerated, challenging course work.

Today over 150,000 3rd-9th graders from across the Today over 150,000 3rd-9th graders from across the United States participate annually through four United States participate annually through four university-based centers.university-based centers.

Topic TwoTopic Two

What is acceleration?What is acceleration?Acceleration allows the student to progress at a Acceleration allows the student to progress at a faster rate through a program while at a younger faster rate through a program while at a younger age than usual.age than usual.Types of acceleration can range from entering Types of acceleration can range from entering Kindergarten early to telescoping curriculum. Kindergarten early to telescoping curriculum. There are over 18 types of acceleration.There are over 18 types of acceleration.Acceleration also provides students with Acceleration also provides students with curriculum that can be matched more to their curriculum that can be matched more to their social and emotional state.social and emotional state.

Topic ThreeTopic Three

Why take an out of grade level test like the Why take an out of grade level test like the Explore, ACT or SATExplore, ACT or SAT““Above-level” testing provides a more precise Above-level” testing provides a more precise assessment of a bright child’s potential in assessment of a bright child’s potential in reading, math and science.reading, math and science.

This information provides schools and families This information provides schools and families with identification and assessment tools. This with identification and assessment tools. This will help in making important decisions of finding will help in making important decisions of finding what is the “right fit” for the student.what is the “right fit” for the student.

Topic FourTopic Four

Why is it beneficial to take accelerated Why is it beneficial to take accelerated classes? classes? Taking courses at an earlier grade level or in a shorter Taking courses at an earlier grade level or in a shorter amount of time, allows the student the opportunity to amount of time, allows the student the opportunity to work at a pace that is appropriate for the student.work at a pace that is appropriate for the student.

How does a child’s score demonstrate what type of How does a child’s score demonstrate what type of acceleration is appropriate?acceleration is appropriate?

Taking accelerated courses allows the students to Taking accelerated courses allows the students to take courses in high school that he/she would not take courses in high school that he/she would not normally reach.normally reach.

PATHPATH

Lisa Frissora-PATH Director, since 2004Lisa Frissora-PATH Director, since 2004PATH began in 1986 as a cooperative project PATH began in 1986 as a cooperative project between Hope College and the Ottawa Area between Hope College and the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District.Intermediate School District.In the last five years, PATH’s enrollment has In the last five years, PATH’s enrollment has grown from 65 students to over 180 students grown from 65 students to over 180 students from over 20 school districts.from over 20 school districts.

PATH-Program For Academically Talented PATH-Program For Academically Talented at Hope Collegeat Hope College

The PATH program offers accelerated classes in The PATH program offers accelerated classes in Composition and Literature, Pre-Algebra, Composition and Literature, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I/II, Geometry, Advanced Mathematics Algebra I/II, Geometry, Advanced Mathematics (Pre-Calculus) and Biology.(Pre-Calculus) and Biology.PATH courses meet once a week at Hope PATH courses meet once a week at Hope College and work at their home school the other College and work at their home school the other four days of the school week.four days of the school week.PATH is an opportunity for students to interact PATH is an opportunity for students to interact with peers that share their passion for learning with peers that share their passion for learning and those that are seeking a challenge.and those that are seeking a challenge.

School Year DetailsSchool Year Details

PATH classes meet from the first Tuesday/Thursday PATH classes meet from the first Tuesday/Thursday after Labor Day until the last week in May. PATH after Labor Day until the last week in May. PATH classes follow the school district calendars as much as classes follow the school district calendars as much as possible.possible.

PATH classes are cancelled during the week of PATH classes are cancelled during the week of Thanksgiving, two weeks at Christmas, Spring Break and Thanksgiving, two weeks at Christmas, Spring Break and Tulip Time.Tulip Time.

If there are two or more snow days, it will be determined If there are two or more snow days, it will be determined if a PATH class will be made up at the end of the year.if a PATH class will be made up at the end of the year.

PATH TransportationPATH Transportation

PATH meets once a week on Tuesday or Thursday PATH meets once a week on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons from 1:00-3:30 on Hope’s campus.afternoons from 1:00-3:30 on Hope’s campus.

Students arrive by parent or school transportation.Students arrive by parent or school transportation.

Students can be monitored until 3:45 in a PATH study Students can be monitored until 3:45 in a PATH study hall if a parent can not arrive promptly at 3:30. hall if a parent can not arrive promptly at 3:30.

PATH attempts to house all students in one or two PATH attempts to house all students in one or two buildings located on campus. All students enter the buildings located on campus. All students enter the campus through Van Zoeren Hall located on 10campus through Van Zoeren Hall located on 10thth street. street. Afternoon dismissal is the same.Afternoon dismissal is the same.

Financial InformationFinancial Information

PATH tuition is paid either by the student’s district or the PATH tuition is paid either by the student’s district or the family depending on whether they attend public school, family depending on whether they attend public school, private school or are home-schooled. Each district has a private school or are home-schooled. Each district has a separate policy on tuition and transportation.separate policy on tuition and transportation.

PATH tuition bills are sent out at the end of October. PATH tuition bills are sent out at the end of October. Arrangements may be made with Hope College Arrangements may be made with Hope College Accounting to spread out the payments during the school Accounting to spread out the payments during the school year.year.

If a student drops a class in the first six weeks, a If a student drops a class in the first six weeks, a prorated fee is charged for that student.prorated fee is charged for that student.

After six weeks, the class is non-refundable.After six weeks, the class is non-refundable.

Things to Consider…Things to Consider…Encourage your students to Encourage your students to participate in activities and participate in activities and courses that motivate them courses that motivate them and provide them joy.and provide them joy.

Work with your district to find Work with your district to find an academic plan that is the an academic plan that is the “right fit” for your child.“right fit” for your child.