Revised February 2024
***Homer Discovery Education Program Overview and Matrix
Homer 33C Discovery Program Overview
The Discovery Program was developed to meet the unique needs of the academically gifted and talented students of Homer School District 33C. The district is committed to an educational program that recognizes the exceptional abilities of students and provides them with challenging, in depth educational experiences. Students who demonstrate superior academic talents and abilities need a qualitatively differentiated program that will enable them to reach optimal development of those talents. The Homer 33C Discovery Program services the top 3%-5% of the grade level student body. (Please note: for the hard copy version of this document, to access live links please visit www.homerschools.org; Parents and Students tab; Discovery Gifted Education.)
To provide Homer 33C academically gifted and talented students with a district-wide program of advanced learning that encompasses experiences and opportunities in specifically designated areas of curriculum to allow students to utilize their special intellectual gifts to their fullest potential.
General Program Goals
All Discovery based decisions are reviewed and agreed upon by the Homer 33C Gifted Advisory Panel. Our Gifted Advisory Panel includes:
Administrators, Gifted Coordinator, Discovery Teachers
It is the responsibility of the panel to:
The Illinois State Board of Education requires a screening process of all students for any academically gifted program. Homer School District 33C meets and exceeds the requirements outlined by Illinois Rules and Regulations for the Identification and Assessment of Gifted and Talented Children set forth in Section 14A-30. All 33C students are screened in 3rd grade for entrance into our Discovery Program Throughout program appointment, MAP scores are consistently monitored to ensure appropriate placement of gifted students.
The general criterion measures for identification and placement consideration are as follows:
All 3rd grade students are screened for the gifted program using the CogAt and MAP tests. Please see the qualification matrix below.
Students who qualify in 3rd grade for entry into the program in 4th grade will be in the gifted program for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade.
In 6th grade, all students requalify for the program by taking the CogAt. The matrix for 7th and 8th grade gifted/discovery is below. Placement in the program in 4th - 6th grade does not guarantee placement in 7th and 8th grade. Acceptance is based on where the student ranks in the matrix as compared to all other students.
*Please note: Regardless of classroom grades, all 6th grade students will continue to take the CogAt test in November of each school year as the assessment provides valuable information that helps plan for instruction.
Students who are new to the school district and are in grades 4-8 are carefully considered for gifted placement upon registration and transcript review. Further testing may be required to determine appropriate placement into the curriculum. Parents of new students at these grade levels are encouraged to contact the Gifted Coordinator for more information.
Kindergarten through third grade students are serviced in the classroom by the regular education teacher. The Discovery Program Coordinator can provide resource consultation and support to classroom teachers to help enrich the existing curriculum, if needed. No formal identification of students is used at this grade level.
The fourth grade Discovery Program is a self-contained classroom that is currently housed at Luther J. Schilling school. (Please note that students who accept the invitation, post screening, to the Discovery Program will attend Luther J. Schilling for the 4th grade.) The classroom teacher utilizes differentiated instructional strategies designed to promote divergent thinking, abstract reasoning, and autonomous learning. Students experience accelerated and in-depth learning in content areas through whole group and independent study.
The fifth and sixth grade Discovery Program is housed at Hadley Middle School; the seventh and eighth grade program is housed at Homer Junior High School. Our 5-8 model will provide students who are exceeding grade level expectations with an accelerated and differentiated middle and junior high school program, including an advanced curriculum. In addition, said model enables students to have consistent higher level learning opportunities. The classroom teachers utilize differentiated instructional strategies designed to promote divergent thinking, abstract reasoning, and autonomous learning. Students experience accelerated and in-depth learning in the content areas through whole group and independent study.
Each tested student is carefully considered for the Discovery Program using all the aforementioned Identification Process criterion measures as well as the district matrix. The appeals process is available to parents who wish to pursue placement of a child after initial identification outcomes have been communicated (typically late March of the current school year). To file an appeal, please complete and submit the appeal form linked here. The form must be submitted by the date specified on the appeal form of the current school year along with all work samples parents choose to include. Our Gifted Advisory Panel will perform an objective review of the appeal form questions and all submitted work samples; a final recommendation will be determined by the Panel. Please note the appeals process is lengthy; outcomes are typically available 4 weeks post the appeals submission deadline, which is stated on the Appeals form and updated annually.
Student performance and progress in the gifted program shall be monitored on an ongoing basis, including, but not limited to, course grades, local and state assessments, class performance and work completion. If necessary, a plan may be developed and implemented to promote student success. The plan will be monitored for progress and the panel will meet again to determine if a change in placement should be made.
If a teacher, student, or parent requests that a student be considered for removal, the Gifted Panel will meet to review longitudinal data and communication between school and home. The decision will be based upon student performance, educational and/or social emotional needs, and other appropriate considerations.
Please note, student placement and participation in the gifted/discovery program in grades 4-6 does not guarantee placement in the program for grades 7 and 8. All students must requalify in grade 6 for placement in grades 7 and 8.
Homer School District 33C will evaluate the Discovery Program through student growth, student/parent/teacher input, and other means. In the 2016/2017 school year, a thorough, two year review was performed by an outside educational entity that led to highly positive outcomes and tailored suggestions for improvement. Modification and/or adjustment occurs on an ongoing basis to enhance the program overall.
Grades 4-6 Matrix for Discovery/Gifted Program
Total points 40
CogAt and MAP scores used are the percentile rank
5 points | 4 points | 3 points | 2 points | 1 point | |
CogAt- Composite | 99% | 98-97% | 96-95% | 94-93% | 92-90% |
NWEA MAP- READING | 99% | 98-97% | 96-95% | 94-93% | 92-90% |
NWEA MAP- MATH | 99% | 98-97% | 96-95% | 94-93% | 92-90% |
CogAt Points are weighted to equal 75 percent of the score - Max CogAt points 30
NWEA MAP Points 25% (average of the two highest of the three most recent MAP scores) Max points available from MAP = 10
Grades 7-8 Matrix for Discovery/Gifted Program (Math/Science)
Total Points Available 40
CogAt and MAP scores used are the percentile rank
5 points | 4 points | 3 points | 2 points | 1 point | |
CogAt- Composite | 99% | 98-97% | 96-95% | 94-93% | 92-90% |
CogAt- Quantitative | 99% | 98-97% | 96-95% | 94-93% | 92-90% |
CogAt- Non-Verbal | 99% | 98-97% | 96-95% | 94-93% | 92-90% |
NWEA MAP- READING | 99% | 98-97% | 96-95% | 94-93% | 92-90% |
NWEA MAP- MATH | 99% | 98-97% | 96-95% | 94-93% | 92-90% |
CogAt Points are doubled - 75% of total score (Max points available from CogAt = 30)
NWEA MAP Points (average of the two highest of the three most recent MAP scores) - 25% of total score ( Max points available from MAP = 10)
Grades 7-8 Matrix for Discovery/Gifted Program (ELA / Social Studies)
Total Points Available 25
CogAt and MAP scores used are the percentile rank
5 points | 4 points | 3 points | 2 points | 1 point | |
CogAt- Composite | 99% | 98-97% | 96-95% | 94-93% | 92-90% |
CogAt- Verbal | 99% | 98-97% | 96-95% | 94-93% | 92-90% |
NWEA MAP- Reading | 99% | 98-97% | 96-95% | 94-93% | 92-90% |
CogAt Points are doubled - 75% of total score (Max points available from CogAt = 20)
NWEA MAP Points (average of the two highest of the three most recent MAP scores) - 25% of total score ( Max points available from MAP = 5)