Program for Academically Talented Students (PATS)

What is PATS?

PATS initiated in 1987 in the Moline-Coal Valley School District #40. The purpose of the program is to provide appropriate educational opportunities for academically talented students in a self-contained classroom.

How is PATS organized?

The PATS program is available to students in grades one through twelve. Classrooms are located in four schools:

Grades 1-3........Washington Elementary
Grades 4-6........Butterworth Elementary
Grades 7-8........Wilson Middle School
Grades 9-12......Moline High School

Curriculum

The curriculum challenges students to master grade-level standards in greater depth and understanding. We use several strategies to provide academically talented students with opportunities to learn in a supportive yet rigorous academic environment.

Acceleration: The pace of instruction is quickened. Students work more rapidly than those in a regular classroom.

Compacting: At the beginning of a unit or lesson students have an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject. Students can earn credit for what they already know and do alternative work to stretch their understanding.

Emphasis on higher-order thinking skills: Students are challenged to attain a more sophisticated level of thinking involving problem solving, evaluation, analysis, and critical thinking.

Identification

Our philosophy is to identify students in kindergarten to begin participation in first grade. Eligibility, however, can be determined at any grade and at any time during the school year. Objective measures and professional judgment are applied in the selection process. Parents or guardians apply for the student by submitting the following to the program director:

a. Achievement test scores

b. Parent rating form

c. Teacher rating form

We tabulate the data and place it into a weighted matrix to determine overall academic talent. We apply the identification process uniformly to all students. A committee makes the final decision. Enrollment is limited.

Characteristics of students with high ability

High-ability students frequently exhibit certain behavior at a young age. These may include but are not limited to the following:

Assembles puzzles designed for children who are two to three years older
Exhibits intense curiosity
Expresses and understanding of abstract concepts
Uses advanced vocabulary
Demonstrates a sense of humor
Masters new skills, concepts, songs, or rhymes with little repetition
Creates new shapes or patterns with blocks, play dough, or drawing material
Demonstrates spontaneous verbal elaboration with new experiences
Creates songs, dances, stories or games
Takes apart and reassembles objects
Strives for perfection
Prefers the companionship of older children or adults

PATS Teachers

Elementary School (Washington):

1st – Ms. Engstrom
2nd – Mrs. Stegh
3rd – Mrs. Tague
Spanish – Sra. D’ (Mrs. Dannenfeldt)

Elementary School (Butterworth):

4th – Mrs. Brizgis
5th – Mrs. Palmer
6th – Mrs. Engstrom
Spanish – Sra. D’ (Mrs. Dannenfeldt)

7th Grade:

Mrs. Kiely (English)
Mrs. Pittington (Math)
Mrs. Fowler (Science)
Ms. Mulcahy (Geography)

8th Grade:

Mrs. Daily (English)
Mrs. Welvaert (Math)
Mr. Olson (Science)
Mr. Juenger (History)

Link to 9-12 parent survey

Link to 1-8 parent survey

Download Program for Academically Talented Students (PATS) brochure