Southern Lakes Advanced Learners Network  (SLALN)

Welcome to the landing page of the almost 40 year old Southern Lakes Advanced Learners' Network! Once known as the Whitewater TAG Network, the name was changed around 2015 to embody the trend in gifted education embracing all learners who may need more challenge. 

Today, SLALN is a thriving co-op of school districts in southern Wisconsin (roughly between Milwaukee and Madison and down to the Illinois state line) that meet together about five times a year for professional development and collaboration. We plan events for students in our school districts, and member districts who are active participants are also actively able to partake in our programming.

You will notice most of our programs have their own webpage, curated by the committee that runs the program, and linked on the menu. For more information on that program, please consult the appropriate page. If you would like to participate, please consider having your school district join our network. (Unfortunately, our programs are not open to non-member school districts or to individuals.) If you notice any broken links, etc., please send an email to slalnwebsite(at)gmail.com. 

Note: SLALN does not provide identification of individual students, nor advice for parents or families, as each member district is its own entity and has its own policies and procedures in place. 

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS: 

Wisconsin Statute 118.35 and Administrative Rule 8.01(2)(t)2 establish laws about gifted education in the state of Wisconsin, including provision of a Gifted and Talented Coordinator in the district; K-12 identification and servicing of gifted and talented students in the areas of intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership, or specific academic areas; and access to appropriate K-12 programming for gifted and talented pupils in these areas of identification. 

These laws also state that districts may provide access to these services through any combination of school district course offerings, independent study, cooperative educational service agencies, or cooperative arrangements between school district boards under s. 66.0301, Stats., and postsecondary education institutions (per PI 8.001(1), Wis. Admin. Rule).

SLALN is happy to provide programming to assist member school districts with compliance in this area. Although most SLALN offerings are not systematic and continuous, preparation for and follow-up on the programs can be robust enough within each district to have a systematic, continuous, and meaningful impact on the students involved.  In addition, by utilizing the co-op model, each district is able to provide many more programming options than would be available in an individual district.

SLALN offers a wide variety of programs designed to allow gifted learners the chance to discover new interests, explore existing passions, and the chance to interact with like-minded peers.