Lake Stevens board approves HiCap plan submission, considers policy update to boost representation

The Lake Stevens School District Board on May 22 approved submission of the district’s Highly Capable (HiCap) program plan to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), enabling the district to receive state HiCap funding.

Executive Director of Student Intervention Sarah Danielson told the board the HiCap program currently serves 931 students, about 10% of the district, and presented demographic breakdowns and intersections with 504 plans, special education and free‑and‑reduced‑price lunch. Danielson said the district has adjusted screening and outreach practices to better reflect the student body and is planning professional learning and family communication to increase proportional representation.

“Iooking for ways to increase proportionate representation in our HiCap Program and communicate with families about how students are being challenged,” Danielson said, summarizing the district’s next steps to better identify and support students.

Directors discussed clarifying identification processes and how students may opt out of particular advanced placements; Director Kirby asked whether students must remain in HiCap once identified, and Danielson explained students and families can choose course participation. The board unanimously approved the motion to submit the HiCap plan to OSPI (motion moved by Director Lund, seconded by Director Iseminger).

The board also reviewed proposed revisions to Policy #6300 (Highly Capable Programs) to align district wording and procedures with new state regulations adopted in 2023 and the district’s current practices for 2023–24. Danielson said the policy updates would formalize equitable identification goals and reflect the screening changes already in place. Board members expressed support for aligning policy to practice and asked staff to return with final policy language for adoption.

Next steps: the HiCap plan submission will proceed per the approved motion; the policy revision will return to the board for formal consideration and adoption at a future meeting.