Extended Learning Program

Rob McElligott, Ed.D.

Director of Human Resources and Student Services

(847) 498-2610, ext. 5116

Philosophy

Northbrook District 27 embraces a mission to provide every learner with opportunities to grow to full academic potential. The District’s rigorous and coherent curriculum in all core academic areas meets the needs of most students. However, a small percentage of students have unique and exceptional needs and abilities that necessitate a program qualitatively different from the regular classroom program. Therefore, District 27 provides enhanced services in two distinct programs: English Language Arts and Mathematics. The English Language Arts program, Extended Learning Program (ELP), is designed to meet the needs of students displaying academic strengths in the areas of reading and language arts for students in 4th through 8th grades, and additionally, in social studies for students in Grades 6 through 8. Advanced math placement begins in fifth grade for qualifying students; ELP identification is not a prerequisite for advanced math.

Formal Identification Process for 4th through 8th Grade ELP Placement

All students entering 4th through 8th grades are universally screened for potential placement in the Extended Learning Program. Current year and previous year assessment data are used, and students are given the advantage of the higher scores. The following academic data are analyzed:

ELP Screening Process for Incoming 4th and 5th Grade Students

The ELP screening process for incoming fourth and fifth grade students consists of analyzing the following data:

Current year and previous year Terra Nova scores in the areas of Vocabulary and Reading are used. The Terra Nova is a standardized norm-referenced test. For this screening, the District uses the local percentiles; that is, the child in comparison to his/her Northbrook 27 grade level peers. Two years of data are used, and the child is given the benefit of the higher scores.
The Amazing Words grade level vocabulary assessment is used. We look at the past two years of that data and use the higher of the two local percentile scores.
The STAR Reading scores from winter and spring are used. STAR is a nationally-normed criterion-referenced test which is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards. For this screening, local percentiles are used as described above.
The Cognitive Skills Index (CSI) score from Inview is used. The CSI reflects a child’s overall cognitive ability. The highest score from the current, prior year, or the Verbal Only score from the current year is used.
If a student’s screening results are questionable, teachers are consulted and historical data are reviewed.

Parents of students who meet the minimum criteria of screening points are contacted in mid-May and are invited to register their student for the Cognitive Abilities Test, CogAT. The results of the CogAT contribute to the placement decision. A District 27 school psychologist may administer additional testing, if any is required, to complete the referral process.

ELP Screening Process for Incoming 6th Grade Students

The ELP screening process for incoming sixth grade students consists of analyzing the following data:

Current year and previous year Terra Nova Reading scores are used. The Terra Nova is a standardized norm-referenced test. For this screening, the District uses the local percentiles; that is, the child in comparison to his/her Northbrook 27 grade level peers. The student is given the benefit of the higher of the two scores.
Two standardized common assessments, Reading Street and Amazing Words, are used. Students receive screening points for the higher proficiency score of these two grade level assessments.
The STAR Reading scores from winter and spring are used. STAR is a nationally-normed criterion-referenced test which is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards. For this screening, local percentiles are used.
The Cognitive Skills Index (CSI) score from Inview is used. The CSI reflects a child’s overall cognitive ability. The highest score from the current, prior year, or the Verbal Only score from the current year is used.
If a student’s screening results are questionable, teachers are consulted and historical data are reviewed.

ELP Screening Process for Incoming 7th and 8th Grade Students

Entering the ELP cohort in 7th or 8th grade is rare. However, the District process is to screen all students for eligibility. The ELP screening process for incoming seventh and eighth grade students consists of analyzing the following data:

Current year and previous year Terra Nova Reading scores are used. The Terra Nova is a standardized norm-referenced test. For this screening, the District uses the local percentiles; that is, the child in comparison to his/her Northbrook 27 grade-level peers. Two years of data are used and the child is given the benefit of the higher score.
A school-wide vocabulary assessment is used. Student scores are analyzed in comparison to their grade level peers.
The Learning Renewal Interim Reading Assessment, LRIA, is used. The LRIA is a standardized criterion-referenced test provided by the Illinois State Board of Education. The student is given the benefit of the higher score from the winter and spring assessment.
The Cognitive Skills Index (CSI) score from Inview is used. The CSI reflects a child's overall cognitive ability. This test is not administered at Wood Oaks. However, as the data does not vary much with age, we use the data from the 4th and 5th grade administration of Inview. We will only use the higher of the two scores.
If a student’s screening results are questionable, teachers are consulted and historical data are reviewed.

Once students are enrolled in the Extended Learning Program, they generally remain in the program for subsequent years. In rare situations, a decision to exit the program may be discerned through a collaborative process between the parents, student, and the administration.