Services We Provide

Domain-Specific Services [Grades K – 8]

Students are identified based on academic strength in Literacy (advanced verbal reasoning/advanced reading achievement) or Math (advanced quantitative reasoning/advanced math achievement).  Domain-specific services will be provided in the general education classroom in the school where your child is enrolled.

Domain-specific services will continue to roll-up to higher grades each year. During the 2024-25 school year, grade 9 will be added. During the 2025-26 school year, grade 10 will be added.

Differentiated/Accelerated Services [Grades 2 – 12]

Differentiated Services are for students identified for the centered program at Cherry Crest, Medina, Somerset, Woodridge, Odle, Tyee or Interlake yet wish to remain at their neighborhood or choice school and receive differentiated instruction for highly capable students in the general education classroom. Accelerated Services are for students who were enrolled in self-contained services yet returned to their neighborhood/choice school during middle or high school and receive instruction at a higher grade level in one or more content areas. Carol Tomlinson defines differentiation as a way of teaching in which teachers proactively modify curriculum, teaching methods, resources, learning activities, and student products to address the needs of individual students and/or small groups of students in order to maximize the learning opportunity for each student in the classroom. Differentiated instruction is offered by adding acceleration, depth, complexity, and novelty into the existing core curriculum where relevant. It is not more work or anything additional. It’s doing something different with the content that is being studied.  The service delivery is similar to the Domain Specific Services Model but provided in the core content areas of language arts, math, science and social studies.  This service model is for in-district students only.

Centered Services – Elementary [Grades 2 – 5]

Centered Services in elementary school provide full day services which provide identified students opportunities to engage in intellectually stimulating endeavors with peers who are identified as in need of advanced learning.  Services are provided at one grade level beyond the grade of enrollment, for example, 2nd graders would learn 3rd grade curriculum in the core content areas of language arts, math, science and social studies.  Some elementary social studies topics are presented at grade level based upon Washington State requirements.

Purposeful flexible grouping of students has been shown to increase intellectual engagement and qualitatively affect measurable academic growth. Centered Services will provide students opportunities to explore content areas with depth, complexity, and pacing suited to their intellectual abilities.

Services in the math domain are determined by academic performance on curriculum placement tests in grades 2-4. Students are assigned to math classrooms, at appropriate levels, with opportunities for content and process differentiation.  This service model is for in-district students only.

District Transportation is provided to the assigned program site. Bus service for Advanced Learning self-contained services is often different than the service within a local school boundary. The optional program boundaries cover a larger geographic area resulting in bus stops that are generally located farther apart, on arterial roads, and at local school sites. Students are automatically assigned a bus stop if they are registered by July 15th for the following school year. Bus stop information will be mailed the week before school.

Students identified as highly capable in grades 2 – 5 have the option to receive services in their home school. Students who choose to receive services in their home school will receive enhanced or extended learning opportunities in their regular classroom (differentiated services).

Centered Services – Middle School [Grades 6 – 8]

Centered Services in Middle School are provided to an identified cohort of students in language arts, social studies, math, and science. The Centered Services language arts and social studies curricula emphasize and integrate the use of critical thinking skills in receptive and expressive abilities through the study of various cultural, historic, economic, geographic, and literary perspectives.

The math curriculum follows the district sequence with students accelerated by one year (or more if acceleration occurred in grades 2-4). Extensions and enhancements to the math curriculum are utilized to help students gain a more conceptual understanding of the topics presented. In science, the curriculum prepares students for high school biology in the 8th grade.

The Bellevue School District, and the state of Washington, recognizes that social emotional learning (SEL) should be an integral part of every student’s educational experience. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is broadly understood as a process through which individuals build awareness and skills in managing emotions, setting goals, establishing relationships, and making responsible decisions that support success in school and in life. When we think of educating the whole child, their social and emotional development must be considered as a part of overall instruction. In Bellevue, our schools focus on creating welcoming and inclusive environments that support all students’ social emotional development in a culturally responsive way that honors students’ histories and cultures can set youth up for long-term success and well-being.  This service model is for in-district students only.

District Transportation is provided to the assigned program site. Bus service for Advanced Learning self-contained services is often different than the service within a local school boundary. The optional program boundaries cover a larger geographic area resulting in bus stops that are generally located farther apart, on arterial roads, and at local school sites. Students are automatically assigned a bus stop if they are registered by July 15th for the following school year. Bus stop information will be mailed the week before school.

Students identified as highly capable in grades 6-8 have the option to receive services in their home school. Students who choose to receive services in their home school will receive enhanced or extended learning opportunities in their regular classroom through differentiated services.

Centered Services – High School [Grades 9 – 12]

Through Centered Services in High School, students are grouped in a cohort in the core areas of English, history, science and math. In grades 10 & 11 students enroll in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program with the goal of completing the IB diploma at the end of the 11th grade.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program is recognized as one of the most academically rigorous, college preparatory programs in the world. This highly respected, two-year curriculum focuses on classical liberal arts and sciences and is a challenging educational program designed to prepare students for a wide variety of life options, especially success in college.

At the conclusion of the IB program (12th grade), students participate in internships and attend college level English and Humanities courses with the cohort of identified students. Students may also enroll in additional AP courses and electives to round out their senior year.  This service model is for in-district students only.

High school students are eligible to receive an ORCA card through their school of registration if they live outside the one radial mile walk of such school. At registration time, an ORCA/metro bus pass application will need to be filled out and eligibility verified before the card is given to the student. Routes are updated in August and as routes change.

Students identified as highly capable in grades 9-12 have the option to receive services in their home school. Students who choose to receive services in their home school will receive enhanced or extended learning opportunities in their regular classroom through differentiated services.