ELP is our district's program to provide enrichment and/or extended academic services to students who demonstrate a need for accelerated content above and beyond differentiation in their general classroom. We are specially trained and licensed in gifted education and offer small group pullout classes during the school day.
The Extended Learning Program, (ELP) seeks to provide high ability students with learning
opportunities appropriate to their intellectual strengths and needs in compliance
with Iowa Code Chapter 59 Gifted and Talented Programs.
The mission of gifted education in the Iowa City Community Schools is to provide challenge, enrichment, and/or acceleration to meet gifted students’ academic and social/emotional needs.
What Students Are Expected To Know and be Able to Do Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade
Universal Constructs: Essential for 21st Century Success
These include:
The ELP Department has made the switch to student digital portfolios made with Google Sites and a student reflection rubric for conferences. Families should ask their student to present their portfolio and rubric to them to see their work in ELP.
Three levels of services including targeted, intensive, and/or acceleration; acceleration is addressed in Iowa City Community School District Academic Acceleration Guidelines and Procedures
Universal = Classroom Teacher extensions in class (may seek guidance from ELP Teacher )
Targeted = Enrichment Services from ELP Teacher in small group pull-out
Intensive = ELP Services (extended) from ELP Teacher in small group pull-out
More details in pdf's below:
Kindergarten, first grade, and second grade students are being screened for Targeted Enrichment services through in-class lessons and collaboration with the classroom teacher throughout the school year. Students are re-evaluated each semester. No parent or teacher nominations are necessary for K-2.
All second grade students will be screened in spring with a shortened on-grade-level assessment. Parents will receive notification about second grade Universal Screening dates when it is scheduled at their child’s school. Letters with results will typically be sent home in March-April.
Some students may be requested to continue with further assessments, using the full above-grade-level test for consideration of ELP services (targeted and/or intensive). No parent or teacher nominations are necessary. Letters are sent home with results and service determination in early June.
ICCSD schools with less than 3-5% of the student body nationally standardized tests, district tests, teacher and parent information, and student work
The yearly screening of students for participation in the Extended Learning Program (ELP), the elementary program for gifted and very high ability students, typically screens for new students in the second semester. Students can enter this screening pool by Iowa Assessments scores, teacher nomination or parent nomination. Notification for Parent Nomination submissions are advertised in school newsletters, virtual Peachjar fliers, and on this site.
The timeline may adjust, but parent nomination has generally been in February-March and testing has been administered in April-May. Letters are sent home with results and service determination in early June. Only grades three through five are included in this screening process.
NEW Students who enter ICCSD at other times of the year may have their previous educational information evaluated by ELP Dept. Please contact your building ELP teacher.
*** This program is appropriate for students who are at the highest academic levels in their grade. ***
Nominations Link -- Currently Closed
Sample Parent Notification: April & May 2018 CogAT Schedule & Information Letter.