What is the Summer Program all about?

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The Summer Program offers accelerated courses in mathematics, science and the humanities. Apogee, Spectrum and Equinox courses meet for three weeks, five hours per day, with commuter and resident options available. Students completing 4th grade have the option to enroll in a one-week Apogee program. Leapfrog courses meet for one week, and are commuter only. PreK-3rd grade students may enroll in half-day courses. 3rd grade students also have the option to enroll in all-day courses.

A Summer At CTD

The majority of CTD Summer Program students take classes on Northwestern University's Evanston campus. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in suburban Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern's 240-acre campus provides a variety of recreational venues in addition to a library, student center, labs and other facilities. From the home base of Evanston, students have access to a variety of educational and recreational opportunities in the greater Chicago area. Equinox students may also take CTD courses at Case Wesern Reserve University (Case) in Cleveland, Ohio. Case is located in Cleveland's University Circle, a 550-acre, park-like concentration of cultural, medical, educational, religious, arts and social service institutions in the city of Cleveland. Spectrum students may take CTD courses at Case on a commuter basis only. Additionally, Equinox students have the opportunity to participate in the Civic Leadership Institute at the University of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.

Faculty

Our distinguished faculty are selected from premiere schools in the Chicago and Cleveland metropolitan areas. Teachers are chosen for their mastery of subject matter, classroom experience, enthusiasm, ability to individualize their teaching, and skill in providing interesting, thought-provoking, and varied classroom experiences. Each class has a teaching assistant selected from universities across the country. Teaching assistants provide academic support to students both in and out of class.

Students

High academic standards and a diverse student body ensure that students will learn not only from their teachers, but also from one another. In 2007, over 3,200 students participated in CTD's Summer Program and came from urban, suburban and rural settings in 41 states and 17 foreign coutnries. Many students return for a second or third year and over 65% choose to reside on campus for their three-week course.

Academic Life (grades 4-12)

Apogee (grades 4-6), Spectrum (grades 7-8), and Equinox (grades 9-12) students enroll in one class per three-week session and may attend one or two sessions each summer. Students completing grade 4 have the option to enroll in a one-week Apogee program. Two three-week sessions are available to students completing grades 4-12. For both the three-week and the one-week sessions, classes meet for approximately five hours a day. Students do not attend classes on weekends, but they may attend study sessions depending on the program. Students enrolled in a session on July 4th will attend class on that day. In order to maximize personal attention to the learner, CTD summer courses are limited to 18 students per class, and each class has both a master teacher and a teaching assistant. The academic emphasis differs by program. Please read the individual program and course descriptions to determine an appropriate fit for your student.

Academic Life (grades PreK-3)

Leapfrog (grades PreK-3) students at CTD participate in one-week courses. Students may participate for one, two, or three weeks in Evanston or Glen Ellyn. In Evanston, classes are offered in the morning and the afternoon. In Glen Ellyn, classes are only offered in the morning. Classes meet for three hours, and students may also participate in a lunch/recess option from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm at both sites for a small fee (note: lunch is not provided). Students completing grade 3 have the option to enroll in all-day classes from 8:30 am - 2:45 pm on Northwestern University's Evanston campus. Students in the all-day classes stay through lunch (note: lunch is not provided) and have a lunch/recess break from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Leapfrog classes are also limited to 18 students (16 in PreK and kindergarten), and each class includes a master teacher and teaching assistant. The academic emphasis in Leapfrog provides students with hands-on activities and challenging lessons.

Residential Life (grades 4-12)

Successful completion of the course is the primary objective of the program; academics, however, are only part of the experience. Participants have opportunities to interact with intellectual peers and develop friendships, engage in recreational activities, and enjoy local events and resources.

Residential students live in dormitories under the supervision of specially trained residential staff. In the dormitories, each Residential Advisor is responsible for a group of 10-16 students, depending on a student's age. Male and female students may share a floor, but will have separate bathrooms. Students eat with residential staff and other members of the university community in a dormitory dining room.

In order to keep our students safe, each program provides age-appropriate supervision. Apogee students are expected to be with a staff person when outside the dorm. Spectrum students are expected to be with a buddy when outside the dorm and with a staff person when off-campus. Equinox students are expected to remain with a buddy when outside the dorm; at some sites, Equinox students are allowed to travel off-campus or use public transportation without staff.

Weekends find students enjoying a broad range of activities, such as off- and on-campus theater, concerts, movies, sporting events, dances, and talent shows.

Students receive a family handbook with detailed information about residential life after they have been admitted to the program. We discourage extended time away from the program during the student's three-week stay as it interferes with the student's integration and academics; this includes July 4th.

Please note that in 2008 all dormitories are air-conditioned, and personal air-conditioners from home are prohibited.

Commuter Life (grades 4-12)

Commuter students and residents take the same courses and are responsible for the same assignments. Apogee and Spectrum commuter students are dropped off and picked up at a central location each school day and will be with a staff person or buddy while on campus. Equinox students are responsible for getting to and from class on their own. Commuter students are invited to participate in afternoon activities and in some supervised evening and weekend activities with residential students (such as dances and talent shows), but commuters normally leave campus by 5:00 pm on weekdays for Apogee and Spectrum and by 11:00 pm on weekdays for Equinox. Apogee and Spectrum commuters are highly encouraged to attend evening study sessions on campus. Apogee, Spectrum, and Equinox commuter students are provided lunch at the university cafeteria.

Commuter students and their parents should understand that the Center for Talent Development cannot assume responsibility or liability for commuter students when they are not in class or participating in a program activity. It is critical that commuter students call the appropriate academic office if they are late or absent. CTD provides a car pool list for those who wish to participate in a car pool. Please indicate your interest in the car pool list in the appropriate section of the application. Detailed commuter information is outlined in the Family Handbook that is mailed to students after they have been admitted to the program.

Commuter Life (grades PreK-3)

Leapfrog is a commuter-only program. Parents are responsible for dropping off their children between 8:50 am and 9:00 am for the one-week, morning sessions and between 12:50 pm and 1:00 pm for the one-week, afternoon sessions. Students enrolled in the afternoon session may be dropped off at 12:00 pm if they choose to participate in the lunch/recess option. Pick up for the morning sessions is at 12:00 pm, or at 1:00 pm for students participating in the extended lunch/recess option. Pick up for the afternoon session in Evanston is at 4:00 pm. Leapfrog students participating in the lunch/recess option are responsible for bringing a lunch that does not require refrigeration. 3rd grade students enrolled in the one-week, all-day sessions should be dropped off between 8:20 am and 8:30 am, and picked up promptly at 2:45 pm. All 3rd grade students enrolled in the all-day program must bring a lunch that does not require refrigeration to class each day.

Honor Code

In order to provide a safe learning environment, all CTD students are expected to abide by the CTD Honor Code. The Honor Code can be found in the Family Handbook. Students and parents will also receive a copy of the Honor Code in the acceptance packet, which is to be signed and returned prior to arrival on campus.

CTD Honor Code

In order to create a safe and successful learning community, I agree to:
- Always act with honesty and personal integrity.
- Always do my own work to the best of my ability, without using or providing unauthorized assistance.
- Treat all other students, staff and other persons on campus with respect, regardless of their age, gender, ability, religion, race or sexual orientation.
- Treat all facilities and property with respect and care.
- Observe all program rules and cooperate with CTD staff.

Facilities

Students have access to many of the university facilities, including recreational sites, the library, and the student center.

Health Services

The Summer Program fee covers basic health services for residential students. Students who require more extensive assistance are taken to a nearby hospital. The residential fee covers clinic services; it does not provide for medical insurance coverage. Families are responsible for any hospital fees incurred by their child.

All Summer Program participants must be covered by a major medical insurance policy. In the event that a family does not have medical insurance, a waiver must be signed. Contact CTD to obtain a waiver.

Computers

CTD students have access to computer facilities owned by both CTD and the university, but hours are somewhat limited. Students who own computers, especially those enrolled in writing intensive classes, may find it convenient to have their own computer with them while attending CTD. Please note that CTD, Northwestern University, and Case Western Reserve University do not provide technical support, including e-mail and internet access, for personal computers.

North Central Accreditation

The Center for Talent Development is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as a "Special Function School." Accreditation means that the Center grants credit for high school level courses successfully completed by students in its programs. The amount of credit varies by course and is listed with the course descriptions. Only students earning a C or higher in the course will receive course credit.

Receiving Credit At An Academic Year School

Because every school has its own policy on courses taken outside of school, CTD cannot guarantee that appropriate credit or placement will be accepted by the academic year school. Credit recorded by the school will also depend in part on the student's performance in the course.

We strongly encourage families to discuss their student's participation in CTD with school officials before the program begins. Research has shown that early parental contact with the school makes it more likely that students will receive appropriate credit and placement for work completed in the Center's Summer Program. Course syllabi are also available online.

Evaluation

All students receive a final, written evaluation of their work. Leapfrog and Apogee evaluations provide feedback about achievement and performance in the course, student strengths, areas in need of improvement, and student work habits and attitudes. Spectrum and Equinox evaluations include the student's semester grades, credit earned, course description, remarks on a student's performance and proficiency, and recommendations for future study.

For high school credit courses, the evaluation, a course syllabus, and transcript showing the course grade and amount of credit earned are automatically sent to a school official the student designates on his/her application. Parents receive the teacher's written evaluation and the syllabus.

For Spectrum and Equinox courses, CTD recommends one or two semesters of credit, depending on the course and the student's performance. Students who earn a C- or lower in the course do not receive credit.

Educational Advising Conferences

Apogee, Spectrum, and Equinox teachers are available for parent conferences on the last day of each three-week session. During these conferences, teachers, parents, and students can discuss the student's educational and career plans and performance in the program. Telephone conferences can be arranged for parents unable to come to campus. The Educational Advising Conferences are offered in addition to the written evaluation every student receives.