Pathways to Expertise

Supporting Wisconsin's Schools, Families and Thinkers in their Quest to Recognize Talent and Embrace Challenge

Select an area of interest.

The Center for Advanced Academics celebrates the talent in all Wisconsin schools.  Our mission is to help schools and families identify and challenge student talent areas. This is a big task that begins in each classroom when strong differentiated practices like  flexible and/or ability grouping, curriculum compacting, and tiered lessons, create a more personalized learning experience.

We also know that cultivating student talent requires collaboration between districts, schools, community groups, and families. When students are ready for the next level of challenge (RtI Tier II and III advanced learning interventions), we employ the Center for Talent Development Pathways approach to developing expertise. We invite thinkers to choose learning communities that match their talents and develop an understanding of what expertise looks like in the selected field. Once a thinker is identified as needing the next level of challenge, We offer programming meant to inspire emergent talent, challenge above grade level thinkers, and build student expertise.

Advanced Academic Programs have different attributes.  Understanding the attributes can help you find the program that best suits your individual learning needs.

	Statewide	Statewide programs service students from around Wisconsin.
	MPS Only	These programs are typically only offered to Milwaukee Public Schools.
	Individual Registration	Parents or Guardians can individually register their children for these programs.
	Educator Registration	Educators register selected students for these programs.

Emergent Talent

Students registered in these programs are exposed to a variety of subject areas while cultivating a joy of learning and exploration. These programs bring together thinkers who share similar interests, but who are just beginning to acquire fundamental knowledge in a particular field.

Grades 5-8				Project A "MISSIONS"
	• A Community Passionate about YOUR Interests  • Focus on project creation and management. • Tier Two, extension curriculum with 20 hours of online instruction • Students spend four to five hours per week completing activities. • Cost: Members ($115), WI Schools & Families ($125), Out of State ($175), International ($200) • Scholarships Available to WI Schools & Families

Competency

Students registered in these programs receive an accelerated curricular experience that focuses on student talent areas. In these programs, students collaborate with like-minded peers to create products that reach beyond grade level expectations, and mirror the products of professionals in a selected field.

Grades 1-3				Scaling-up Expanding Excellence for Underrepresented Students See Us!
	• Serving approximately 900 students in grades 1 through 3. • Designed to help early identify students who would be otherwise overlooked for gifted and talented services. • Classroom teachers identify student readiness for gifted and talented services using the Teacher's Observation of Potential in Students (TOPS) tool. •  Utilizes the U-STARS PLUS (USP) observation tools and protocols.

Grades 5-8				Project A "MISSIONS"
	• A Community Passionate about YOUR Interests  • Focus on project creation and management. • Tier Two, extension curriculum with 20 hours of online instruction. • Students spend four to five hours per week completing activities. • Cost: Members ($115), WI Schools & Families ($125), Out of State ($175), International ($200) • Scholarships Available to WI Schools & Families

Grades 6 & 7				Smart Spaces "CAMPAIGNS"
	• Ramps Up Challenge Over a Semester with Three Courses • 6th Graders Start 2nd Semester, Continue 1st Semester of 7th Grade • School, Family, and Community Capacity Built Around Students • Grant-Support in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Some CESA 5 Schools • Pricing for Non-grant Schools Based on District Need

				Online Academy "CHALLENGES"
	• In-Depth Challenges Focused on Cross-Curricular Problems • Tier Three, replacement curriculum • 90 hours of instruction including three face-to-face meetings • Rigorous reading and research requirements • Students spend seven to ten hours per week completing activities • Cost: Members ($225), WI Schools & Parents ($250) • Scholarships Available to WI Schools & Families

Ages 3 - 16				International Baccalaureate
	• Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students ages 3 to 12 focuses on the development of the whole child in the classroom and in the world outside. • The Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students ages 11 to 16 provides a framework of academic challenge and life skills through embracing and transcending traditional school subjects.

				ALEKS
	• An adaptive, online math program that uses artificial intelligence and open response questioning to identify precisely what each student knows and doesn’t know. Individualized learning and assessment delivers a personalized learning path on the exact topics each student is most ready to learn.

Other Programs Highlighting Competency Include...

The Center for Talent Development (CTD) Weekend Enrichment Program

The Center for Talent Development (CTD) Civic Week

The Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth (WCATY) Young Students Summer Program

The Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth (WCATY) Summer Transitional Enrichment Program

The Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth (WCATY) Accelerated Learning Program

Expertise

Students in these programs work with community groups and universities that provide advanced coursework, mentoring & apprenticeships experiences. Thinkers tackle advanced level curriculum while networking with peers and professional in order to complete authentic work done in a field. 

Ages 16 - 19				International Baccalaureate
	• The Diploma Programme (DP) for students ages 16 to 19 is a demanding two-year standardized curriculum. Most higher education institutions award college credit for high marks on IB Diploma Programme exams and retroactive credit for the earning of an IB Diploma. • The Career-related Programme (CP) for students ages 16 to 19 is the newest offering from IB. The CP incorporates the vision and educational principles of the IB programmes into a unique offering designed for students who wish to engage in career-related learning.

				Advanced Placement
	• The Advanced Placement (AP) program offers College Level Curriculum and Exams to High School Students • Students acquire skills necessary for college success including time-management, problem solving, writing proficiency and strong study habits. • Students acheiving qualifying scores may acquire college credit at participating colleges and universities.