JCC High Ability Learner Program
Johnson County Central Public Schools
High Ability Learner Program
2025-2026 School Year
Johnson County Central HAL Philosophy
Johnson County Central schools strive to provide high-quality instruction to all students and also take into account their individual needs.
The purpose of the High Ability Learner program is to provide an inclusive environment and create opportunities for students to develop talents in their domain of strength while focusing on the specific affective, social, and academic needs of gifted and talented students.
The High Ability Learner program is designed to identify students in grades 4-12 who exhibit high performance capabilities and foster talent in students that display potential. Appropriate services shall be provided to these students.
Definition of High Ability Learner
Students who score at or above the 95th percentile in a standardized assessment in any content area on two assessments are recognized as High Ability Learners. Students must also maintain a cumulative grade point average of 90% or higher in the content area.
HAL Program Goals & Objectives
The goal of the HAL program is to provide a differentiated program that will meet the needs of our districts’ high ability learners. The program will strive to:
- Identify students who demonstrate potential abilities of high performance in recognized areas of giftedness.
- Provide advanced learning opportunities for all students.
- Provide education services that meet the needs of all high ability learners.
- Follow the identification procedures as outlined in the district identification plan for high ability learners.
- All staff members shall be made aware of the identification procedures.
- To meet the students’ intellectual, social, physical, and emotional needs.
- Within the regular classroom a variety of instructional techniques including but not limited to compacting, alternative assignments, advanced placement, contract learning, differentiated curriculum, and independent studies will be used as necessary.
- Within the regular classroom flexible grouping, including but not limited to ability, achievement, cluster, and cross-age grouping will be provided as necessary.
- Enrichment programs will include but are not limited to within-class enrichment, whole class enrichment, school-wide enrichment, learning centers, extracurricular programs, and pull-out services.
- The counselor will be available to assist teachers and students in meeting individual needs.
HAL Identification Procedures
The districts’ identification process shall include multiple criteria in an effort to be inclusive rather than exclusive in the HAL program. The identification procedures will be consistent with the definition of the districts’ high ability learner program.
HAL Screening Process:
All students at Johnson County Central will be screened in grades 4-12 for our district’s high ability services based on the following:
- MAP Reading and/or Math Achievement test scores of 95th percentile or higher
- NSCAS ELA and/or Math Achievement test scores of 95th percentile or higher
- ACT Achievement test scores above 30
Selection Process:
The JCC High Ability Learner (HAL) policy is as follows for students beginning in fourth grade:
- Score at or above the 95th percentile in one or more of the specified academic areas on a district administered standardized assessment. Students must qualify on 2 in the same content area, in an academic year with a score at or above the 95th percentile. Scores will be utilized beginning in 3rd grade from the following assessments: MAP, NSCAS, and ACT.
- Have an accumulative grade point average of 90% in the specified academic area(s) on which the student has scored at or above the 95th percentile on the district administered standardized assessment.
*Students who qualify in upper elementary (grade 4 or 5) and maintain the 90% GPA will remain in the high ability learner group through upper elementary. Students who qualify in middle school (grades 6-8) or high school (grades 9-12) will remain in the high ability learner group if they maintain a GPA above 90.
Additional Program Services, Options, and Strategies (including but not limited to)
Curriculum Enrichment
Flexible Grouping
Curriculum Compacting
Ability or achievement grouping
Advanced Elective Classes
Advanced Class in Core Curricular Area
Advanced Skill development class
Independent Study Opportunities
Dual Enrollment [Post-secondary enrollment options (concurrent enrollment, college classes)]
Cluster Grouping
Extra-Curricular School Offerings
Career Exploration
Pull-Out
Competitions
Quiz Bowl
Academic Decathlon
Alternative assignments, productions, pacing, materials, content
Career and/or future education planning
Leadership programming
Evaluation
Annual evaluations of the HAL program shall be conducted by using any of the following measures: surveys aligned to AQueSSTT. Information gathered will be used to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the HAL program and how we can improve. Student needs, program design, curriculum, learning environment, student identification, staff development, and other resources will be evaluated.
Staff Development
School staff shall receive training which will include, but is not limited to areas such as HAL characteristics, social and emotional needs, identification, curriculum, assessment techniques and instructional strategies.
Teachers will participate in trainings related to high ability learners during staff training days.
Teachers, counselors, and administrators will be made aware annually, which students have been identified and are included in the program.
Management Plan
The High Ability Learning program will be led by Mr. Hedger in grades 4-8 and Mrs. Reuter in grades 9-12, they are the directors of HAL Services. Mr. Hedger and Mrs. Reuter will ensure the quality of training and implementation within the schools. They will work with principals, administrators and staff collaboratively in order to build relationships and create a positive environment to foster the needs of High Ability Learners.
2025-26 JCC HAL Action Plan (PDF)
Johnson County Central Schools High Ability Learner (HAL) Funds requested for the 2025-26 School year include:
On To College with John Baylor: $3567
Glowforge Aura Bundle: $1447.00
Golden Sower Competition + Books
Quiz Bowl Competition
AcaDeca Competition
Projected Total HAL Funds: $6,746.00
The materials and resources requested for the High Ability Learner Groups this school year include items to help students learn more about conduction, electricity and engineering. This school year, we plan to purchase a Glowforage Aura Bundle, which will be great hands-on resources that can help students explore structural concepts while applying math, engineering, coding and agricultural skills. In addition, the Golden Sower, Quiz Bowl and AcaDeca Competitions will help grow the teamwork and communication skills of our students as they work together to accomplish the assigned tasks.
We will purchase the On To College with Jon Baylor Test Prep system to help our high ability learners in the high school increase their ACT scores. Our high ability learners are consistently interested in improving their individual subject area and composite ACT scores. The On To College program has given our high ability students the tools and strategies they need to achieve higher scores on the ACT. Our high ability students who have re-taken the ACT have raised their composite scores from one to three points. By raising their scores, these students are now eligible for better scholarships at colleges and universities as well as programs in both high school and at colleges and universities that will help them as they finish their years of high school and prepare for higher education and a future career.