Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Lighthouse Program begin?
Where is the Lighthouse Program Located?
Who can attend the Lighthouse Program?
- Students who meet Lighthouse Program criteria whose residence is outside the school district boundaries and those who live within the school district.
What are the criteria for selection for admission into the Lighthouse Program?
The criteria listed below will be consider as a portfolio assessment
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Achievement test scores - A combination of standardized test scores drawn from the student’s record that provide evidence of mastery of age appropriate content
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Ability test scores - Results of group or individual ability test scores that provide evidence of superior performance
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Grades from previous schools
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Products of independent performances - Evidence of student’s capacity to pursue areas of intense interest: A demonstration of the student’s insatiable curiosity, wonder and awe with the world
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Written teacher recommendations - Teacher’s observations and insights into the nature of the student’s task commitment, motivation, ability, capacity to work collaboratively
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Interview by selection team
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Example of student writing - Student’s response to the prompt which elicits the writer’s argument for admission to the Lighthouse Program
How will Lighthouse Program students engage in the learning?
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Lighthouse Program students, engaged in inquiry experiences, will pursue questions shared by those with common interests. Students will have the option to pursue on line learning in math and world language. Students in the program will be with their intellectual peers, not necessarily their age peers.
How will the different age groups’ needs be met within the Lighthouse Program?
- Lighthouse Program students’ learning needs will be met by creating a differentiated classroom. Differentiated learning embraces content, management, instruction and assessment. It means that at times, some students will be working independently and at other times they will be engaged in guided learning. They will work alone and together. Groupings will be determined by interest, not necessarily age. Students will work at learning stations, on task assignments, on collaborative investigations and other research options. They will engage in lecture, Socratic dialogue, learning circles, and creative production. Lighthouse program students may engage in concurrent enrollment with the high school, enrolling in specific coursework to meet credit requirements or to gain the necessary knowledge for success in further Lighthouse Program investigations. Differentiated instruction responds to the nature of the Lighthouse Program student. One size fits few.
How will assessment take place in the Lighthouse Program?
- Ongoing assessment is a critical aspect of instruction in the Lighthouse Program. Norm-referenced assessment informs planning and instructional change. In the "Lighthouse Program" nationally norm referenced testing will take place in the fall and spring of the school year. Students will be grouped by age for testing to accommodate the process. Students in grades 2-12 will demonstrate an average gain of 1.5 years in reading and math scores on Northwest Evaluation Association Achievement Level Tests (ALT) and we will monitor progress on individual growth on the Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP). We believe this system will provide timely and accurate assessment of student progress in the curriculum and on state standards. We expect to rely on the results from the MCA’s and Basic Skills testing (BST) to provide guidance on instructional effectiveness. Grading assessments will be derived from student performance on problem investigations.
What opportunities exist for acceleration?
- The nature of these insatiable learners provides evidence of speed and efficiency in thinking processes. Research (Rogers and Kimpston, 1992) suggests an appropriate educational program model for gifted students should include opportunities for grade level and content acceleration. The Lighthouse Program is structured around student readiness rather than age. Grade levels assignment dissolves within this model. Advancement is dependent on demonstrated competency. Acceleration will be imbedded in the structures of the Lighthouse Program. Given the nature of these students we would expect them to finish the traditional K-12 experience 2-4 years earlier than other children enrolled in traditional programs. The pacing of introduction of new skills and concepts would be extraordinarily fast. Distinctions between grade dissolves in this model as students’ needs are matched to appropriately challenging content and skill instruction. This framework suggests multi-aged groups pursuing big ideas, flexible, impermanent groupings collaborating on specific issues, concurrent mentorships, tutoring, early entrance to college, and AP offerings.
What is the Inquiry Approach?
Inquiry is problem-based learning (PBL) in real life. Researchers are finding out that solving real-life problems or completing real world projects better matches the nature in which the brain learns and retains information. PBL is a natural fit for the curious mind. PBL matches the curiosity, desire for depth and complexity, and the intensity of the insatiable learner who would be served by this program. Their natural curiosity, their ceaseless drive to understand why, their capacity to make connections and see their world as an integrated whole: all are characteristic of the Lighthouse Program students. These interpersonal characteristics fit naturally with the complexity of the learning planned at the Lighthouse Program.
How do I register for the Lighthouse Program if I live outside the district?
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Arrange for a meeting with the program coordinator to answer your questions and to gain a better understanding of the program.
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Arrange for a day for your son/daughter to attend the Lighthouse Program for a full day visit
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Arrange for an interview day and time
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Upon acceptance to the program complete the registration material provided
How do I register for the Lighthouse Program if I live within the district?
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Arrange for a meeting with the program coordinator to answer your questions and to gain a better understanding of the program.
-
Arrange for a day for your son/daughter to attend the Lighthouse Program for a full day visit
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Arrange for an interview day and time
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Upon acceptance to the program complete the registration material provided
Contact the office of the Lighthouse Program Coordintor, Dr. Bill Keilty (763-795-6686) with your questions.
