Iowa City Community School District
Extended Learning Program
The mission of the Extended Learning Program in the Iowa City Community School District is to provide an array of services to students with the highest academic need and support the educational experience of advanced learners.
Program Goals:
- Provide an array of research-based services to support and enrich the educational experience of advanced learners
- Develop the intellectual, academic, social-emotional, and creative abilities of advanced learners
- Expand services to reach more students from underserved populations
- Provide opportunities for students to learn among and collaborate with other advanced learners
The Extended Learning Program (ELP) is staffed by specially certified teachers. The program is regularly evaluated as per the District's Curriculum Review process and is updated with regard to the ELP Curriculum Review Improvement Plan. The ELP program has been established in accordance with Iowa Code.
ELP Identification
Extended Learning Program (ELP) Overview
The ELP program is designed for students performing at the highest academic levels in their grade and provides challenging learning experiences beyond the general curriculum.
How Students Are Identified
- Elementary School: Students may enter the screening pool through district assessment data, teacher recommendations, or parent nominations. All 2nd and 5th grade students who show high potential on the district’s universal screeners will have the opportunity to take an ability assessment in the spring of the school year. Students in 3rd and 4th can be nominated to participate in this assessment.
- Kindergarten–2nd Grade: Primary Enrichment is provided for students in kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades, as a way to identify and nurture emerging talents in the early years of elementary school. Participation in Primary Enrichment is determined on a year-to-year basis. Students in grades K–2 will be re-screened each school year to ensure that services continue to meet their learning needs. Participation one year does not automatically carry over to the next.
- Middle School: Students are eligible if they qualified as 5th graders or if they are new to the district and meet the criteria. All middle school students can follow the self-nomination process for consideration of services.
- High School: ELP services are offered as an independent study option, which can replace an elective course. Students can also receive elective credit for completing an independent study.
Elementary
ELP Elementary Eligibility Criteria
|
Naglieri |
Naglieri |
FAST |
FAST |
ISASP |
ISASP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
NPR |
Point Value |
NPR |
Point Value |
IPR |
Point Value |
|
70 |
0 |
70 |
1 |
70 |
1 |
|
71 |
0 |
71 |
1 |
71 |
1 |
|
72 |
0 |
72 |
1 |
72 |
1 |
|
73 |
0 |
73 |
1 |
73 |
1 |
|
74 |
0 |
74 |
1 |
74 |
1 |
|
75 |
2 |
75 |
1 |
75 |
2 |
|
76 |
2 |
76 |
1 |
76 |
2 |
|
77 |
2 |
77 |
1 |
77 |
2 |
|
78 |
2 |
78 |
1 |
78 |
2 |
|
79 |
2 |
79 |
1 |
79 |
2 |
|
80 |
4 |
80 |
2 |
80 |
4 |
|
81 |
4 |
81 |
2 |
81 |
4 |
|
82 |
4 |
82 |
2 |
82 |
4 |
|
83 |
4 |
83 |
2 |
83 |
4 |
|
84 |
4 |
84 |
2 |
84 |
4 |
|
85 |
5 |
85 |
2 |
85 |
5 |
|
86 |
5 |
86 |
2 |
86 |
5 |
|
87 |
6 |
87 |
2 |
87 |
5 |
|
88 |
6 |
88 |
2 |
88 |
5 |
|
89 |
6 |
89 |
2 |
89 |
5 |
|
90 |
7 |
90 |
3 |
90 |
6 |
|
91 |
8 |
91 |
3 |
91 |
6 |
|
92 |
8 |
92 |
3 |
92 |
6 |
|
93 |
9 |
93 |
3 |
93 |
6 |
|
94 |
11 |
94 |
3 |
94 |
6 |
|
95 |
11 |
95 |
4 |
95 |
7 |
|
96 |
12 |
96 |
4 |
96 |
7 |
|
97 |
13 |
97 |
4 |
97 |
7 |
|
98 |
14 |
98 |
4 |
98 |
7 |
|
99 |
14 |
99 |
4 |
99 |
7 |
ELP Elementary Services
- ELP services (small group or individual pull-out) are offered in all elementary schools. Students meet with the ELP teacher outside of the regular classroom and participate in differentiated activities in the general classroom that are supported by the ELP teacher.
- Students work on challenging interdisciplinary units of study that involve higher order thinking skills and opportunities for creative expression.
- Some students may also participate in special interest groups or independent studies.
Middle School
Students who are identified for ELP services in 5th grade remain eligible for ELP 6, ELP 7, and ELP 8 in middle school, as well as ELP opportunities in high school.
ELP 6 through ELP 8 students work on challenging interdisciplinary units of study that involve higher order thinking skills and opportunities for creative expression.
For students who have not yet been identified, families may nominate their child to be considered for ELP services. If this interests you, please complete a nomination form:
Deadline for completing the nomination form is by the end of the third week of school (early September).
High School
Students who are identified for ELP services in middle school are eligible to continue services in high school. For students who have not yet been identified, families may nominate their child to be considered for ELP services. If this interests you, please complete this nomination form.
The structure of ELP services at the high school level consists of an option for an independent study instead of an elective course. However, students are eligible to receive elective credit if they choose to participate in an independent study.
Students who do not wish to participate in an independent study may have questions about additional extension opportunities. Please email the ELP Coordinator, Erin McDonald, if you would like further information.
Independent Study Credit
Students may earn elective credit to pursue areas of study or real-world projects that are not offered in the general curriculum. Students must acquire approval by the high school ELP teacher and cooperatively develop a course of study to fit individual interests. Space is limited for high school students, so priority will be given to earlier applications that demonstrate a clearly identified topic of interest. Independent Study projects must be completed during the traditional school year.
The student will meet with the high school ELP teacher to discuss expectations and a potential course of study. Once a course of study is developed and signed by the ELP teacher and student, the student will gain signatures of approval from their parent(s) and their school counselor. Planning and preparations should begin at least two to four weeks prior to the end of the preceding trimester. (Exceptions may be made at the start of the school year.)
The high school ELP teacher will serve as advisor, supervisor, and evaluator. The course of study will establish guidelines for the project and a sequential time schedule for completion of the work. A schedule of regular meetings between the student and teacher will be established. The ELP teacher will evaluate the project prior to credit being issued.
A student may earn 1 to 5 credits of Independent Study per trimester with a maximum of thirty (30) credits counting toward elective graduation requirements only. Guidelines for credit will be one credit hour for a minimum of 15 hours of work. The student is required to turn in a written log of the dates/time during which the student completed the project.
These credits may NOT be counted toward early graduation. Grading is done on a pass/fail basis. It will show as “Independent Study” on the transcript. For the class to appear on a student’s transcript, it must be taken for credit (see above). Receiving credit for independent projects is optional, and agreed upon in the initial plan. (This may be modified throughout the course.)
An independent study project must be completed one week prior to the end of the term for which credit is to be issued.
Study projects for credit will not:
-
Be included as part of the minimum course load requirement.
-
Be counted toward a PE academic waiver course load requirement.
-
Replace any of the subject area graduation requirements i.e., science, language arts, social studies, physical education and/or math.
-
Be taken in lieu of a course offered in the district.
ELP High School Learning Contract
Example of ELP learning contract to be completed with the ELP teacher:
| What are you going to learn? (Objectives) | Itemize what you want to be able to do or know when completed. |
|---|---|
| How are you going to learn it? (Resources and Strategies) | What do you have to do in order to meet each of the objectives defined? |
| Target date for completion | When do you plan to complete each task? |
| Regular check-in with Advising Instructor | Feedback/ Was the objective met? Plan for the next objective. |
| How are you going to know that you learned it? (Evidence) | What is the specific task that you are to complete to demonstrate learning? |
| How are you going to prove that you learned it? (Verification) | Who will receive the product of your learning and how will they evaluate it? |