Current news and updates on SJPII’s SOAR Program as posted by the program director.
In order to ensure that students enrolled in SJPII who have been identified as Gifted, academically advanced, or academically talented have the opportunity to reach their full potential KCFS created the Students of Academic Rigor (SOAR)program, the only one of its kind in the Diocese of Erie schools.
KCFS has adopted a formal, three-step admissions process for SOAR comprised of the following components: Identification, Formal Evaluation, Final Determination.
Parental Request: Any parent who believes their child is gifted or highly talented may request that KCFS provide a multi-disciplinary evaluation to determine if the child is eligible for the program.
Teacher Referral: A teacher may notify administrators and parents that a student’s classroom performance indicates that he or she may be gifted or highly talented.
Test Score Review: SJPII administrators and staff will conduct an annual review of the Stanford Achievement Test scores of every student in grades two through five to determine which students may be gifted or highly talented. Parents will be notified if their child falls into either of those categories.
Once a potential candidate for SOAR has been identified parents will be asked to complete a “Permission to Evaluate” form authorizing KCFS to undertake a multi-disciplinary evaluation of their child. This evaluation will be conducted under a process prescribed by the state of Pennsylvania and will include an evaluation of the student by the KCFS certified school psychologist.
IQ scores are not the sole factor for determining admission to SOAR. Students who score slightly below or above the benchmarks established for the program may be admitted if they demonstrate characteristics such as advanced creativity, exceptional performance in one area of study or specific subject, i.e. Math, or other recognized attributes of gifted or highly talented students.
The BSJPII principal will, after close consultation with the Gifted Program teacher, make the final decision regarding a student’s admission into SOAR.