Highly Capable Program

Washington's Highly Capable Program is a component of the state's program of basic education. School districts provide instruction, activities, and services that accelerate learning for young learners identified as Highly Capable. To be eligible for identification, students must be enrolled in a school district, charter school, or tribal-education compact school. Districts must define an educational program for Highly Capable students, and comply with specific program-related provisions that, integrated as a whole across the K–12 continuum, will deliver a comprehensive and equitable education for Highly Capable students.

The Legislature allocated the following amounts for Highly Capable education:

• 2023: $33,887,000
• 2022: $32,213,000
• 2021: $31,551,000
• 2020: $30,490,000

Guidance & Resources for Educators & Families

This page includes information on the gifted education specialty endorsement competencies, standards for gifted education, organizations and programs that support Highly Capable children, presentations, and reports.

Javits HiCapPLUS Professional Learning Modules for Educators

HiCapPLUS meets a critical need for professional learning, and technical assistance among teachers and administrators who serve Highly Capable children. The project is a grant award from the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program, U.S. Department of Education.

Advisory Committee for Gifted Education

Serving to advise OSPI on matters related to the K-12 education of Highly Capable students, the advisory committee prioritizes identification, program services, and professional development.

For previous meeting minutes, contact our office.

Highly Capable Program Student Data – October 2024

Highly Capable Program Student Data

“RCW 28A.185.050 - Beginning November 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the superintendent of public instruction must make data publicly available that includes a comparison of the race, ethnicity, and low-income status of highly capable students compared to the same demographic groups in the general student population of each school district. Reporting must also include comparisons for students who are English language learners, have an individualized education program, have a 504 plan, are covered by provisions of the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act, or are highly mobile.”

Please use this link to view data about identified highly capable students as reported to OSPI by Local Education Agencies (school districts, charter schools.) The link opens to Data.WA.gov and explains what to do to download an Excel file. When you download the Excel file, you will see a title at the top of each column. For example, line 1, Column F is the State Total of All Students.  Reading across, Column K is the number of Highly Capable identified students in the state.  Column M is the number of Non-Highly Capable students in the state.

You can filter to view district-level data only as follows: After downloading the excel file, click the link in the ribbon for “Sort and Filter”, then click “Filter”. This opens pull-down menus at the top of each column. In column B, “OrgLevel”, click the down arrow, unclick (Select All) and click “District” and “OK”. Scroll down to where “Aberdeen” appears in Column F. Districts/LEAs are in alphabetical order.  Columns G and H are the Student Groups. 

School district assessment or data personnel can help you with questions about how to filter the data in the spreadsheet. Disclosure Avoidance Technique (Column I) relates to what is required to ensure the security of individual student data.