Acceleration should only be considered when best practices in differentiation strategies are unable to meet the student’s needs. Students at any grade K – 8 can be accelerated in Math (exceptions in other content areas made on a case by case basis) when they meet the following criteria.
Placement decisions are determined during the following windows:
Between September 1 – October 15 (for current year) and May 15 – June 15 (for following year).
Criteria:
Student must have met the criteria to be identified as Gifted and Talented in Math. Refer to the screening criteria for 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Grade students. If the student is in Kindergarten or Grade 1, they would need to meet 2 of the 3 following criteria to be considered for math acceleration:
CogAT (Level A) ≥98%
SAGES II Math/Science (K-3 level) ≥98%
G/T characteristic interview score of ≥5
And MUST also be at the following Fountas & Pinnell instructional reading levels:
Kindergarten student: levels K, L, or M
Grade 1 student: levels N, O, or P
Student must have scored ≥85% on the end-of-year Math assessment for the grade level ahead of their placement for spring window, and for the current grade if during the fall window.
Placement options:
Qualifying students will join a regular math class at the grade level ahead.
If placement goes beyond Grade 4, the student will work in a pullout setting with the Gifted and Talented teacher or will use a self-paced online program.
If there are scheduling conflicts that are insurmountable, then the school will discuss and determine other options.
Process:
Teacher or parent nominates a student for acceleration (nomination goes to the GT teacher).
GT teacher collects & compiles relevant data.
GT teacher notifies building administrator to arrange preliminary meeting to discuss options (staff only).
Building administrator convenes meeting with parents and relevant staff (includes GT teacher) to review data and recommend a placement.
Each spring, the GT teacher will contact parents regarding a student’s continued acceleration plan.
Grade level acceleration should only happen in rare circumstances, if ever, particularly at the K – 4 level.
The cost of entering high school at a young age has significant implications in terms of social pressures that will not be evident at the student’s current age.
Considerations:
Must qualify for Gifted and Talented identification in Reading and Math.
Refer to the screening criteria document, for 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Grade students. If the student is in Kindergarten or Grade 1, s/he would need to meet 3 of the 4 following criteria to be considered for grade acceleration:
CogAT (Level A) ≥98%
SAGES II Math/Science (K-3 level) ≥98%
SAGES II Reading/ Social Studies (K-3 level) ≥98% G/T characteristic interview score of ≥5
And MUST also be at the following Fountas & Pinnell instructional reading levels:
Grade 1 student: levels N, O, or P
Kindergarten student: levels K, L, or M
Also taken into consideration:
Advanced writing skills
Chronological Age of student
Maturity
Social and Emotional capacity and resilience
Process:
Parent or teacher nominates a student for acceleration (nomination goes to Gifted and Talented teacher).
GT teacher collects & compiles relevant data.
GT teacher notifies building administrator to arrange preliminary meeting to discuss options (staff only).
Building administrator convenes meeting with parents and relevant staff (includes GT) to review data, discuss long-term implications, and recommend a placement.