The Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth or WCATY (pronounced WI-kuh-tee) is a non-profit organization based out of Madison, Wisconsin. Created by Dr. Ellie Schatz in 1991, it hosted its first summer program in 1992. A variety of programs are offered, either residentially during the summer (the best known of which is the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) for high school aged students), or year round with internet based courses. WCATY is accredited through NCA-CASI. WCATY is the Wisconsin affiliate for MATS. Through MATS, students take out of level tests to qualify for programs or courses.
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The Accelerated Learning Program was originally held on the campus of University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, followed by the campus of Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, St. Norbert college in De Pere, Wisconsin, and most recently the University of Wisconsin–Madison. ALP serves students of high school age (plus qualified middle school students), offering courses from freshman high school classes to AP or college level coursework. Courses taken during these three weeks are eligible for their equivalent high school credits. Students can take AP exams the following May for college credit eligibility.
The Summer Transitional Education Program (STEP) is for student in the middle school years. Lasting only two weeks, it allows students an educational enrichment experience with a group of gifted peers. STEP was designed to transition students more smoothly between YSSP and ALP, and has been held at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, and Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin.
The Young Students Summer Program (YSSP) is for students in grades four through six, and lasts just one week. This program has been held at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin.
Throughout the year various enrichment programs and courses are coordinated by WCATY.
Online District Coops allow students from a district or small region to participate in a blend of online coursework and face to face meetings. The courses are written and staffed by WCATY instructors. Courses take one academic quarter to complete, and districts agree to allow students to use the curriculum as a replacement of one of their regular courses.
Girls in Science was open to females entering middle school (grades 6-8) and was hosted at UW–La Crosse. Girls in Science is no longer offered through WCATY, but continues to run as a Community Outreach program for youth through the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
The Young Scholar Program pairs talent identified 7th and 8th graders with mentors in a field of the students interest. This program is grounded in Dr. Schatz' work on pairing gifted students with mentors. [1] Generally held in September, the Young Scholar Fair serves as a project showcase for what students have accomplished while working with their mentors. This program is offered in collaboration with donors annually.
This poetry contest is administered by WCATY each March and has a cash prize. Submissions are accepted from high school age students.
WCATY is in the process of extending the module for the Coop courses to create a group of student-taught Guilds categorized under the five Houses used to group District Coop classes. Fourteen Guild leaders have been selected to begin development, and students who advance sufficiently as guild members can begin their own guilds. The Village is scheduled to launch January 28, 2009. The Village is currently not very user friendly, but efforts are now being made to improve the site.
WCATY is currently partnered with the University of Wisconsin at Madison