ATYP Qualifying Information

• Academically talented students need accelerated, above-grade-level course content.
• Our philosophy is rooted in the idea that intellectual development often outpaces social and physical development (called asynchrony).
• We should teach children according to intellectual capacity, not age or grade level.

ATYP Overview

• The Academically Talented Youth Program (ATYP) was founded in 1981 with 22 students.
• We have enrolled over 4000 students from 60 SW Michigan public and private schools.
• ATYP is part of the Office of Pre-College Programming at Western Michigan University.
• ATYP offers classes in Kalamazoo and sometimes in Battle Creek.

• Advanced & Accelerated Instruction
• Intellectual Challenge
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Creative Curriculum
• Open Discourse & Debate
• Like-Ability Peers
• Study Skills
• Self-Confidence
• High School Credit

• ATYP identifies and serves middle and high school high-ability students who need the challenge, are motivated to learn, and are capable of completing above-grade-level curriculum with fast-paced instruction.
• ATYP uses accelerated high school and university level curriculum which culminates in Advanced Placement (AP) content and leads to student success in advanced classes.
• Currently, ATYP has math and language arts programs that, as well as an AP Computer Science course.
• Students begin the program in 7th or 8th grade and continue for two to four years.
• ATYP follows the local public school calendar.
• Parents are responsible for the transportation of their students to and from ATYP; some districts provide a bus to ATYP.
• For most students, the courses meet one day per week from 1:20 – 3:50 p.m. (AP classes meet two days per week).
• Classes are offered Tuesday through Thursday.
• ATYP students tend to take a seminar/study hall period during the last hour of the school day for the rest of the week (if possible). They do ATYP homework there, as well as other schoolwork.
• Students do not attend a class for their ATYP subject at their middle school.
• Read the article "Why Getting 100% on Everything is Setting Gifted Students Up to Fail"

• Public school districts pay tuition for their enrolled students.
• Families pay tuition for students who are home-schooled or at most private schools.
• Revenue from school districts and families covers about 82% of ATYP’s costs.
• The remaining 18% comes from donations and miscellaneous revenue.
• WMU provides classroom and office space, as well as administrative support.
• Tuition is $475 per class per semester for first- and second-year courses.
• Families are responsible for three $50 installments for enrollment/participation fees per year, per student. Portions of these fees are paid at enrollment and at the beginning of each semester. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify for a state/federal subsidy.

• ATYP uses a three-step process to find students ready for above-grade-level content:
  • Step One: Identifying potential students using: state test scores, achievement test scores, past talent search participation, qualification for school gifted program, teacher and/or parent nomination.
  • Step Two: Administer above-grade-level tests or submit a portfolio.
    • Above-grade-level test: A test designed for older students taken by younger students.
    • Rationale: Above-grade-level tests have enough ceiling (difficult questions) to differentiate among students with advanced abilities.
  • Step Three: Access targeted resources or programs.

• Your presence here means you’ve taken the first step; we’ve identified your student’s potential based on standardized achievement test scores (90th percentile or better) or from teacher, parent, or counselor recommendations.
• Register with CTD Assessment for the online SAT or ACT test in January - April or for the in-person unofficial ACT test in March to qualify using the Traditional Method or
• Submit information on the ATYP website to qualify via the portfolio method.

• CTD Assessment is part of the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
• It seeks to serve gifted children and their families from Pre-K through grade 12.
• Even if you’re not interested in ATYP, we highly recommend CTD Assessment as an option.
• More information is available about the CTD/ATYP Partnership. Registration is easy online.
• Cost: $100.
• Testing dates (and deadlines):
  • Sunday, January 25 (1/18), Saturday, February 21 (2/15), Saturday, March 7 (3/1), Saturday, March 21 (3/15), Saturday, April 11 (4/5), and Sunday, April 26 (4/19).
  • You may choose either the ACT or the SAT. You will not be taking the essay portion of either test and you will not be taking the science portion of the ACT. All testing is in the morning.
• CTD Assessment provides convenient, remote, online testing and a converted SAT or ACT suite score
• CTD Assessment provides access to above-level coursework and summer opportunities (both in-person and remote). 

• In-person unofficial ACT testing with ATYP is Saturday, March 7 (3/1) beginning at 9 a.m.
• ACT In-Person registration link
• ATYP will not share the scores of any qualifying test we give with anyone. You may only use this score for qualifying for ATYP.
• Cost: $75 for in-person unofficial ACT

• Either test is fine as both the ACT and the SAT contain high school material and are about the same length.
• The ACT seems to be better for math-oriented students, while the SAT is better for reading- and writing-oriented students.
• The SAT and ACT are offered virtually through CTD Assessments and will have more supporting information. 
• The ACT can be in-person while the SAT is only online.
• Do not take the PSAT test; this is not used for ATYP qualification.

• Students who qualify for federal or state subsidized programs can qualify for fee waivers for all aspects of ATYP. Examples of federally subsidized programs are free/reduced lunch, foster child status, and Medicaid, among others. Examples of state programs are MI Child or a Bridge card. To receive the code for fee waivers, please email @email and provide one of the following items:
  • Copy of a letter from your school stating that you qualify for a state/federally subsidized program.
  • Photo of your student's Medicaid card, MI Child card, or Bridge card (with identifying numbers redacted).
  • Copy of the first page of your taxes with your total income and number of dependents (please black out the social security numbers).
  • Copy of a letter stating your student is a foster child from a foster agency or the state.
• Receiving free lunch at school does not automatically qualify you for financial aid. You must also meet income or other eligibility requirements.
• Email @email for more information on the process.

• Direct online registration for the ACT/SAT is not available for students under 13.
• Testing is done at home; no need to travel to a test site or be in a room with high school students.
• CTD provides a Toolbox with resources for families of gifted students that includes online, summer, and school-year programs.
• Students continue to receive information from CTD throughout high school.
• If you plan to use your scores to qualify for any non-ATYP programming, you should use CTD Assessments.

• Have several non-mechanical pencils and a calculator with you.
• Tests are long – bring a snack and water bottle.
• For in-person tests, cell phones must be off and watches cannot beep. Leave the phone at home if necessary.

• For more information, attend a Test Preview Seminar (described below).
• Virtual test takers should pay attention to your email inbox for additional details for test day instructions.
• Take a practice exam found online for the test you are taking.
• Get a good night’s sleep and have a good breakfast.
• Be prepared to test on time:
  • in person, plan to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.
  • virtually, be set in front of your computer with all supplies 15 minutes before the scheduled test start time.
• Special content prep classes are not recommended and do not help determine the right placement.

• Held on Saturday, January 10 (in-person, 9:30 a.m.), Sunday, February 8 (online, 4 p.m.), or Saturday, February 28 (in-person, 9:30 a.m.); a recorded session is also available.
• Cost: $50 (financial aid is available, see above)
• Tips and content: General Overview / English Overview / Math Overview
• Seminar registration is available online.

• Students will submit:
  • An email address for a teacher who will provide a recommendation
  • An email address for a counselor who will provide grades and NWEA/MAP Score or aptitude test score
  • Written student response on ATYP interest
  • Additional assessment information when asked
• Cost: $50; financial aid is available, email atyp-info@wmich.edu for more information.
• Deadline: Sunday, March 15
• A greater percentage of students do not qualify for ATYP using this method; it is not meant to be an “easier” method of qualification, rather an alternative. This option is meant to be more equitable for students for whom English is a second language or who have other barriers to test taking.
• You may not qualify for both math and English using this option; you must specify which subject you want to qualify for.
• Families should discuss which qualifying method they want to use, and then select ONE.