EXCEL FAQs

EXCEL - Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility and Appeals

What does it take to be eligible for EXCEL programming?

Who determines eligibility?

Should I submit an appeal if my child is not eligible?

General Information

How are students transported to Full Time and Pull Out programs at the elementary level?

Who decides the process for EXCEL in terms of referrals, testing, eligibility, and placement?

Other Questions

If my child qualifies and is placed into an EXCEL classroom, what will be different about the instruction and expectations in this classroom from a regular education classroom?

Does participation in EXCEL open any doors at the high school level in Evergreen?

What is a cluster classroom?

If my student is in a Pull Out classroom, does he/she have to do assignments for their Pull Out classroom AND their regular classroom for the days they attend EXCEL?

What if my child gets into EXCEL but doesn’t do well?

What are Target students?

What happens if we have lost or do not turn in our Agreement for Participation on time?

WHO CAN I ASK ABOUT OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?

Placement

Who determines placement in EXCEL?

What is placement based upon?

Can my child be in an EXCEL class if he/she is in Evergreen on a boundary exception?

In considering a request for placement, what is the difference between Full Time EXCEL and EXCEL Pull Out? What do I need to consider before I make a decision on what program would be best suited for my child’s needs?

Why can’t my student be in Full Time EXCEL?

Is Full Time EXCEL better than Pull-Out?

Referrals

Who can refer a child for testing?

How does our district ensure fairness, equity and access to the referral process?

Should I refer a child for testing?

Testing

What kinds of tests and measures are used to determine eligibility for EXCEL?

What are the tests like?

Can we teach our student so he/she will do well on the tests and become eligible for EXCEL?

How do I talk to my child about testing so he/she won’t worry too much about it?

How do I talk to my child about testing so he/she won't worry too much about it?

We just transferred into Evergreen from another district. Do our former test results count? Can my student be in EXCEL in your district if he/she was in a program for gifted students in another district? Do we still have to apply and test?

Can my student test again? What are the considerations for re-testing?

What do test scores mean? How do I read the report that was mailed to us?

How do I talk to my child about his/her test scores?