Philosophy
The Kingston City School District is committed to the belief that the learning process must be adapted to meet the needs of pupils regarding learning rate and style. The learning environment must be flexible enough and sufficiently responsive to meet those needs. The Kingston Alternative Learning Program is designed in accordance with the district philosophy.
The Kingston Alternative Learning Program is committed to the belief that we must foster educational experiences which are inclusive and allow students the opportunity to display emerging gifted behaviors.
The Kingston Alternative Learning Program is committed to the belief that students exhibiting gifted behaviors have special needs that require appropriate attention both within and beyond the regular classroom setting.
The KALP program seeks to:
- Identify, through a screening process, students currently demonstrating, or with the potential to demonstrate, a high level of performance.
- Provide activities which are a logical extension of curriculum for students based on individual abilities, needs, and interests as they emerge.
- Foster and promote classroom activities that develop higher level thinking skills for all students in all classes.
- Establish an ongoing evaluation of program effectiveness and student participation.
Summary of Screening and Identification Procedures
The intent of our screening procedure is to be inclusive rather than exclusive in identifying students who demonstrate, or have potential to demonstrate, a high level of performance. Every attempt has been made to quantify the process in order to ensure that all students have a fair and equitable opportunity to participate in the program if they desire.
A list of potential candidates is generated by each special area teacher (i.e. art, music, etc.) In addition, classroom teachers are asked to complete a "Teacher Nomination Form" for the areas of English Language Arts (ELA) and Math, Science, & Technology (MST) for any students they want considered for eligibility in KALP services or activities. Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences is the basis of this screening instrument. The tallied points from the forms are then entered on a master selection matrix for the building. In addition to the two teacher recommendation forms, the student's scores are examined from the following areas:
- Report Cards
- Kindergarten Screening - (two years or higher)
- Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) in K-2
- Kingston Assessment in Math (KAM) in K-2
- Test of New York State Standards (TONYSS) in Math and ELA (grades 3, 6 & 7)
The building teams refine their lists of potential KALP participants based on the submitted forms. The finalized list is sent to KALP Central (the administrative office at Crown Street that handles KALP activities).
Policy on Identified Students Selected for Gifted Programs
Student identification for KALP is an arduous, painstaking process conducted by the Building KALP Representative, the teachers within the building and KALP Central. Selection is based upon Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences which includes, but is not limited to, student performance across all subject areas as well as the fine and performing arts. All students are encouraged to fully demonstrate their talents to earn consideration for identification as "gifted".
As a result of limited resources, attendance at KALP sponsored student programs is often capped. The Kingston School District offers a variety of programs throughout the year allowing different talented students to participate in programs geared toward specific areas of giftedness. Out of financial necessity or other constraints, program attendance must be limited to the maximum number as determined by the building KALP Representative, the district's KALP Facilitator or other sponsoring agency, such as Ulster County BOCES. The program attendance will only include students selected for the particular program by the building KALP Representative assisted by teacher recommendation.
2003-2004 Student Programs
October
- 11 OPUS 40 MCM and JWB (Advanced Writing/ History)
- 15 Montgomery Place JWB (Advanced Writing)
- 18 OPUS 40 MCM and JWB (Art, Music, Science, Math, Technology, History)
- 21 Expanded Horizons Program KHS
- 22 Montgomery Place (AD, Meagher, Edson, GW, Myer)
- 25 OPUS 40 Rain Date
- 29 Montgomery Place (Chambers, Crosby, Graves , JFK, Sophie Finn, Zena)
November
- 12 Montgomery Place (MCM) Advanced Writing Program
December
- 15 Expanded Horizons KHS (Snow date - December 22)
January
- 31 PLUS Test (John Hopkins) (Grades 5/6) MCM Testing Site
February
- 02 Playwriting Workshop (Grade 8)
- 09 Playwriting Workshop (Grade 8)
- 11 Expanded Horizons KHS
- 17 Playwriting Workshop (Grade 8)
March
- 01 Playwriting Workshop (Grade 8)
- 02 Expanded Horizons KHS (Snow date - March 3)
- 08 Math Exceptionalities (Grade 7)
- 09 Playwriting Workshop (Grade 8)
- 22 Math Exceptionalities (Grade 7)
- 24 Playwriting Workshop (Grade 8 - Snow date)
April
- 01 Playwriting Workshop (Grade 8)
- 14 FDR (Grade 4)
- 15 FDR (Grade 4)
- 16 FDR (Grade 4)
- 20 Expanded Horizons KHS
- 23 Math Exceptionalities (Grade 6)
- 23 Family Night (Grades 3 & 4 and their Parents)
- 30 Math Exceptionalities (Grade 6)
May
- 01 Future Scenarios
- 06 Solutions Unlimited (Grade 5)
- 07 Solutions Unlimited (Grade 5)
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