Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Washington State definitions of highly capable students and their unique needs?
The state defines a highly capable student (WAC 392-170-035; 036) as a student who exhibits high capability in intellectual and/or creative areas, possesses an unusual leadership capacity, or excels in specific academic fields, who requires services beyond the basic programs provided by schools. Outstanding abilities are present in students from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.

Highly capable students generally possess these learning characteristics:

1. Capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer learning to new situations;
2. Capacity and willingness to deal with increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers;
3. Ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts;
4. Ability to learn very quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength;
5. Capacity for intense concentration and/or focus.

For current definitions from the field of gifted education, see National Association for Gifted Children.

How does one know if a child is exhibiting highly capable or gifted behaviors?
National Association for Gifted Children provides information on informal assessments and checklists to help address this question.

Do all Washington schools offer the same program to highly capable students?
School districts in the State of Washington have the option of applying for the State Highly Capable Program (HCP) grant.  Districts that apply for and receive HCP funding, must comply with the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapter 392-170 Special Service Program – Highly Capable Students.  In the development of program policies, options, and implementation procedures districts have local control. This means that each district has control in developing its own unique Highly Capable program so long as the program complies with the WAC.  To find out specific information about a district’s highly capable program, contact the district directly.

How is the Highly Capable Program funded?
Districts that apply for the State Highly Capable Program grant receive state funding for two percent of their total FTE students. The allocation is determined by a formula (two percent of the total district full time student enrollment multiplied by the per-pupil amount for that year equals the HCP allocation). The per-pupil amount is adjusted annually.

The state is not the only source of revenue for the program. Districts can choose to supplement their state program funds through the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title V and/or funds raised at the local level for HCP programs.

Must a child excel in all areas to be highly capable?
Children do not have to be gifted in multiple areas to be considered highly capable. A child can be identified as highly capable in a single area of acceleration.

Can a child have learning or physical disabilities and exhibit highly capable traits?
Children can experience learning and physical disabilities and at the same time exhibit highly capable characteristics. This phenomenon is widely referred to as twice exceptional, dual exceptionality, gifted and learning disabled, and gifted learning disabled.