Utah State Legislature

Helping Utah's High-Ability Students - An At-Risk Population!

The High-Ability Student Initiative Program was authorized by the Utah State Legislature, FY 2008 Senate Bill 2, Section 23, Section 53A-17a-160 to provide resources for educators to enhance the academic growth of high-ability students. (http://le.utah.gov/~2008/bills/hbillint/hb0329.pdf)

The High-Ability Student Initiative Program (HASIP) is a continuation of work begun in 2001 when the Utah State Legislature funded a program called Advanced Readers at Risk (ARAR) to provide new learning experiences for students reading well above grade level. This work was continued through a federal Javits Grant submitted to the U.S. Department of Education and awarded to Utah in 2004.  Five Utah school districts (Davis. Salt Lake, Granite, Murray and Nebo) participated in the Javits Advanced Readers At Risk program over a 4-year period.  This highly successful project inspired the High-Ability Student Initiative project to help teachers and parents statewide in their understanding regarding the academic needs of high ability students.

HASIP would like to thank the Utah State Legislature for recognizing the unique needs of high-ability students and for funding this project.   Senator Howard Stephenson, Senate District 11 (http://www.utahsenate.org/aspx/senmember.aspx?dist=11) and Representative Bradley G. Last, House District 71 (http://le.utah.gov/house/members/bios.asp?id=71) who jointly sponsored this legislation, are especially to be commended.

The Utah State Office of Education administers this program, which is currently housed in Granite School District and is in the final year of the program.