What is E-Squared?
Who can participate?
E-Squared is the academic extension and enrichment intervention offered to qualifying students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade district wide. This intervention is a part of MTSS. There are two units of E-Squared offered during each school year, reading and math.
How are participants selected?
Students qualify for E-Squared intervention through the FAST testing that most students participate in three times per year. Students who score in the top 10% of their school for reading and/or math automatically qualify for this intervention. In addition, students may be considered even if they didn’t score in the top 10% if there is other data to support their inclusion in this group. Examples of this data would be demonstrated mastery on common standards based assessments or longitudinal data showing past performance at this level. The numbers of students in these small intervention groups is roughly 10% of the school’s grade level population.
What can students expect from E-Squared?
When students participate in E-Squared enrichment and extension intervention, they can expect to work at a fast pace, with above-level content, engaging reading and/or math themed riddles/jokes and activities meant to inspire curiosity (like learning about something they never knew existed!!). The intervention times occur during a student’s WIN time and typically last 30-45 minutes each time for a total of roughly 10 hours per content area per year. E-Squared activities are not graded, though feedback is a key component.
What other services exist for high ability students?
The majority of extension and enrichment opportunities are happening within a student’s classroom. In addition to E-Squared interventions, students who continue to perform far above their grade level standard can also consider applying for acceleration. Students have the potential to apply for whole grade acceleration or single subject acceleration.