Highly Capable (HiCAP) Referral Window Opens Oct. 1 - Oct. 31

Posted Date: 9/26/25 (9:00 AM)

A student wearing headphones uses a laptop in a classroom setting.

The Oak Harbor Public Schools window for referring a student to be evaluated for Highly Capable (HiCAP) services will be open from October 1 - October 31.

Oak Harbor Public Schools is committed to identifying and serving each and every student by providing a consistent, challenging, and supportive educational environment. Our Highly Capable Program provides services to eligible students in grades K-6 whose potential and/or performance is significant enough to require modifications to their learning experiences, including additional enrichment, extension, and complexity. In grades 7-12, students are provided opportunities to participate in Honors courses, an accelerated mathematics course pathway, Advanced Placement coursework, and College in the High School courses.

Learning characteristics that students who are identified as highly capable may possess include (1) Capacity to learn with unusual depth of understanding, to retain what has been learned, and to transfer to new situations, (2) Capacity and willingness to tackle increasing levels of abstraction and complexity earlier than their chronological peers, (3) Creative ability to make unusual connections among ideas and concepts, (4) ability to learn quickly in their area(s) of intellectual strength, and (5) Capacity for intense focus on topics of interest or challenge.

It is important to communicate that a highly capable student is not necessarily the same as a high-achieving or compliant student. While hard work and effort are admirable qualities we encourage in all students, the highly capable identification process focuses on a child’s unique cognitive abilities—their capacity for abstract thought, their creative problem-solving skills, and their intense intellectual curiosity. Our identification process is designed to find those students who demonstrate significant potential and require a unique curriculum, even if that potential hasn't yet translated into traditional high grades or compliant behavior.
Please note that once a student has been identified as eligible for highly capable services, that student does not need to be reassessed to continue services.

Universal Screener for 2nd and 4th Graders
Our district is committed to equity and access, which is why all 2nd and 4th-grade students will be universally screened for highly capable services. This screening is done using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). A separate referral is not needed for students in these grades.

If you do not want your child to be assessed for Highly Capable Services, please inform Kristen Smith, Teaching & Learning Secretary, by October 1 via email ksmith@ohsd.net or 360-279-5034.

K-11 Online Referral Window
In addition to the universal screener, our online referral window is open to all students in grades K-11 from October 1 to October 31. Anyone can refer a student for evaluation - a parent, guardian, teacher, or even the student themselves. The digital referral form can be found on our district website beginning October 1 or by contacting the Teaching & Learning Department.

What's Next?
The eligibility process to identify students who qualify for highly capable services is designed to be thorough and thoughtful. Here is a general overview of our timeline:

October – February: Student testing window for 2nd and 4th grade universal screener and all other referred students
February – April: Eligibility Committee meets
May: Families are notified if their child(ren) are eligible to receive highly capable services beginning in the 2026-27 school year
June 6: Permission forms for Highly Capable services are due for the 26/27 school year and/or appeal forms are due.
June 18: Families are notified of appeal decisions

Please reach out to Dr. Liz Ritz, Director of Teaching (lritz@ohsd.net) & Learning and/or Kristen Smith, Teaching & Learning Secretary (ksmith@ohsd.net) if you need additional information.