ALP Program: Acceleration Options

Acceleration encompasses many possible ways to move enrichable and advanced learners forward more rapidly than “normal” (see list below). Decisions regarding accelerating a student must be collaborative among the student, parent, and teachers, as well as other knowledgeable professionals after careful examination of factors, to include, but not be limited to:

• Student’s overall academic performance on grade level subjects
• Student’s academic performance on off-level subjects
• Student’s socio-emotional maturity
• Student’s desire for acceleration
• Parent’s desire for acceleration
• Level of academic engagement in one or more topics
• Test data available, including Scantron testing
• Survey/observation checklists (put a listing in a reference page)

Acceleration options include:

Early Entrance to School: In states where allowable, a gifted child who shows readiness to perform schoolwork may enter kindergarten or 1st grade one to two years earlier than the usual starting age.

Curriculum Compacting: The regular curriculum of any or all subjects is tailored to the specific gaps, deficiencies, and strengths of an individual student. The learner tests out or bypasses previously mastered skills and content, focusing only on mastery of deficient areas, thus moving more rapidly through the curriculum.

Subject Acceleration: A student bypasses the usual progression of skills and content mastery in one subject where great advancement or proficiency has been observed. The learner will progress at the regular instructional pace through the remaining subject areas.

Topic Enrichment: Assignments increase pacing or depth of knowledge to a student who demonstrates an interest and motivation in a specific topic. Activities can include:

• Online Elluminate enrichment sessions
• Virtual field trips
• WIKI
• Debates
• Local outings and field trips
• Parent support through trainings and discussion forums
• Social networking
  • Contests/tournaments
  • Science fairs
  • Learning circles and distance learning
• Clubs
• Expert speakers
• Self-determined projects, subject to teacher approval.

Individual Subject Advancement: Assigning a student to a higher grade level than their age-appropriate grade level in one or more subjects in order to provide access to challenging learning opportunities.

Whole-grade Advancement: Assigning a student to a higher grade level than their age-appropriate grade level in all course work in order to provide access to challenging learning opportunities.

Early High School Graduation: The practice of facilitating completion of the high school program in fewer than four years but with completion of all required course work in order to provide early access to post-secondary educational opportunities.

Mentorship: A student is assigned a subject matter expert or professional to further a specific interest or proficiency, which cannot be provided within the regular educational setting.

Dual Enrollment: A high school student is enrolled in college-level coursework while continuing with high-school level coursework. This is for students who have completed core course credit but wish to continue with AP or electives while taking college-level courses.

Credit by Examination: Through successful completion of tests, a student is allowed to receive a specified number of college credits upon entrance to college. (Advanced Placement and the College Level Examination Program are two examples.)

Early Admission to College: A student enters college as a full-time student without completing high school.