The Extended Learning Program is a pull-out program for gifted students in grades 3-6. Students spend the entire school day in ELP on the day their grade level attends. The program is designed to help students develop their extraordinary abilities and recognizes that gifted students have unique needs, talents and values. ELP curriculum strives to enhance the optimum development of the intellectual, emotional, and social abilities and to honor the diversity among identified gifted students through the provision of varied placement options and differentiated and more challenging curriculum.

Students may be referred for testing by a parent, classroom teacher, principal, school psychologist, resource teacher, or by herself/himself. Referrals are evaluated and those students selected for further screening are then administered the Cognitive Abilities Test. To qualify for ELP, a student must score in the 96-99 percentile in two of the three test areas, which are verbal, quantitative, and non-verbal. Students scoring at 128 or higher on the Otis-Lennon need to score at the 96th percentile in just one area to place. Other state-approved tests that may be administered include the WISC-III, Binet, and RIAS.

Because some of the most significant learning occurs outside the classroom, ELP students participate in a variety of special field trips throughout the year. Trips are planned for each grade level and are directly aligned with ELP classroom study. Parents are encouraged to use their ECA tax deduction for payment of trip fees.

Questions about the Extended Learning Program may be directed to Mrs. Barnette at 480-472-7310.