Aspire Higher
High Ability and Advanced Placement Newsletter
July 2021
HIGH ABILITY PROGRAM (HAP) GRANT
2021-2022 (Fiscal Year 22) HAP Grant Allocations
The State of Indiana and the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) continue to support equitable and inclusive identification of and services for students who perform or have the potential to perform at an outstanding level in comparison to peers of the same age, experience, and environment.
The new allocations for the 2021-2022 High Ability Program (HAP) Grant were sent to superintendents, high ability coordinators, and treasurers of each local educational agency (LEA) as well as posted on the new IDOE website here.
The following slides have information regarding the HAP Grant cycle and available resources. Please be sure to download and review the HAP Grant Toolkit, which has document links and resources needed for managing the HAP grant.
2021-2022 (Fiscal Year 22) HAP Grant Application
Due Tuesday, August 31
The new HAP Grant Application is now live on Jotform. Please remember that once a Jotform link is activated, it cannot be saved. For planning purposes prior to activating the Jotform, here is the application in pdf.
Please review the HAP Grant Guidance and Budget Planning for activity suggestions and the High Ability Program Element Evaluation to review your program elements when determining this year’s goals.
Grants will be reviewed in September and October. Once the application is reviewed and approved, all funds MUST be requested up front by submitting a cash request form.
2020-2021 (Fiscal Year 21) HAP Grant Important Dates
Thursday, September 30: Encumbrance Deadline
Wednesday, December 15: Expenditure Deadline
Friday, December 31: Final Report Due
- FY21 HAP Grant Final Report will be live on JotForm at the start of September.
High Ability Program Requirements
Indiana Code 20-36-2-2 and Indiana Administrative Code 511 6-9.1-2 set required criteria for a High Ability Program. Each LEA must have a multifaceted assessment plan (including performance-based, potential-based, and other forms of assessment); a curriculum and instructional strategies plan; a counseling plan; a systemic program assessment plan; and a professional development plan for high ability learners on file and available for public viewing.
- Here is an overview of the High Ability Program Elements required in Indiana Code.
- Here is detailed information on the required criterion of a broad-based planning committee and the equitable and inclusive identification of high ability students.
- Here is an in-depth look at the dimensions of differentiation to be used in high ability curriculum and instruction.
- Here are suggested avenues for high ability program evaluation.
HIGH ABILITY CURRICULUM
IDOE High Ability English/Language Arts Units
IDOE funded a high ability language arts curriculum project wherein the department contracted with Dr. Joyce VanTassel-Baska to lead Indiana teachers in writing English/language arts units specific to high ability students. Using the National Association for Gifted Students’ Standards for Curriculum and Assessment and aligned with Indiana Academic Standards, the team of teachers and Dr. VanTassel-Baska worked to develop language arts curriculum units for each grade level from kindergarten through grade eight. A second set of language art curriculum units has subsequently been developed for grades two through 10.
Each unit is available for download through the High Ability Course on Moodle. Moodle can be accessed through the IDOE LINK portal. Here are instructions for logging into LINK.
Phase I
Unit K: Connecting to My World
Unit 1: Signs and Symbols: Connections for Making Meaning
Unit 2: Connections of the Heart
Unit 3: The Changing Faces of Story
Unit 4: Making a Difference
Unit 5: The Hero’s Journey
Unit 6: The Power of Mind
Unit 7: Powerful Words and Wisdom
Unit 8: Leaders, Legacies, and Leverage
Phase II
Unit 2: Exploring Structure in Language and Literature
Unit 3: Beauty in Interactions
Unit 4: Systems in Life and Literature
Unit 5: Values and Their Influence
Unit 6: Honor Through the Ages
Unit 7: Down the Rabbit Hole
Unit 8: Recognition of Self in Society
Unit 9: Perspectives: Turning Mirrors into Windows
Unit 10: Influence in the World Around Us
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Indiana Association for the Gifted (IAG) Conference
Sunday, December 5 through Tuesday, December 7
JW Marriott, Indianapolis
IAG will host its annual conference in person this year. This is an opportunity for High Ability educators throughout the state to come together to learn and move high ability services and programming to the next level. This conference has learning opportunities for educators, coordinators, counselors, and administrators.
Opportunity to Present
IAG is currently calling for proposals for breakout session presentations. The proposal form can be accessed here.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) PROGRAM
Indiana AP Exam Subsidy
The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) continues to support Indiana students through the AP exam subsidy. This subsidy covers the exam fees for English, mathematics, science, and computer science AP exams taken by Indiana students in grades nine through 12 who are enrolled in an accredited public or nonpublic school. Read more specific information on this subsidy here.