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 different types of learners who may need more challenge.
Gifted learners: High IQ (Intelligence Quotient) as measured by an IQ test
Advanced Learners: High Achievers, identified by schools by use of portfolios, test scores, nominations, inventories, or other measures (varies by school district)
Twice-Exceptional Learners: Students who fit into one of the above categories who also need more help in another area. For example, it is not uncommon for a student to be gifted and need speech & language services
Neurodiverse learners: Students who are gifted or advanced and who are also autistic, have ADHD, or maybe have dyslexia or another difficulty
Multilingual Learners: Students whose first language is not English
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 meets 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, which is curated by the committee that runs the program and linked on the menu to the left. 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.
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.
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.
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.
For more information on membership, please contact slalnmembership@gmail.com.