The Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth or WCATY is a non-profit organization based out of Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....

. 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

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...

. WCATY is the Wisconsin affiliate for MATS

Midwest Academic Talent Search

The Midwest Academic Talent Search, run by Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development in Chicago, Illinois gives above-level testing to gifted children grades 3-9 in the Midwest region to measure their ability and giftedness. 3rd to 6th graders can receive the EXPLORE test, while 6th...

. Through MATS, students take out of level tests to qualify for programs or courses.

ALP

The Accelerated Learning Program was originally held on the campus of University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, followed by the campus of Lawrence University

Lawrence University

Lawrence University is a selective, private liberal arts college with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, in Appleton, Wisconsin. Lawrence University is known for its rigorous academic environment. Founded in 1847, the first classes were held on November 12, 1849...

 in Appleton, Wisconsin

Appleton, Wisconsin

Appleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...

, St. Norbert

St. Norbert College

St. Norbert College is a private Catholic liberal arts college in De Pere, Wisconsin. Founded in October 1898 by Abbot Bernard Pennings, a Norbertine priest and educator, the school was named after Saint Norbert of Xanten. In 1952, the college became coeducational and today enrolls about 2,175...

 college in De Pere, Wisconsin

De Pere, Wisconsin

De Pere is a city located in Brown County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 20,559 at the 2000 census. De Pere is a suburb of Green Bay and is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Registered historic places:...

, and most recently the University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...

. 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.

STEP

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

Edgewood College

Edgewood College is a Dominican Catholic liberal arts college in Madison, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Madison. Overlooking the shores of Lake Wingra, it occupies on Madison's near west side....

 in Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....

, and Beloit College

Beloit College

Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...

 in Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, Beloit had a population of 36,966. The greater Beloit area is home to more than 91,000 residents.-Claim to fame:...

.

YSSP

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

Beloit College

Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...

 in Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, Beloit had a population of 36,966. The greater Beloit area is home to more than 91,000 residents.-Claim to fame:...

.

Year round programs

Throughout the year various enrichment programs and courses are coordinated by WCATY.

Online Coops

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

Academic quarter (year division)

An academic quarter refers to the division of an academic year into four parts, found in a minority of universities in the United States and in some European and Asian countries.-Background and trends:...

 to complete, and districts agree to allow students to use the curriculum as a replacement of one of their regular courses.

Girls in Science

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.

Young Scholar Program

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. 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.

Harlan O. Roberson Poetry Award

This poetry contest is administered by WCATY each March and has a cash prize. Submissions are accepted from high school age students.

The Village

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.