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IS YOUR CHILD A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR WGA?
Whole Grade Advancement (WGA) is an option that can be considered for the
few, highly gifted students who:
❖ consistently perform one or more grade levels above his or her current grade level in all subject areas.
❖ are cognitively and conceptually capable of handling the increased demands of the next grade level by transferring previous learning and acquired knowledge to accomplish complex cognitive tasks.
❖ are socially and emotionally mature and typically demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills in their interactions with adults, age-mates as well as with both older and younger students.
❖ may be strong learners, who actively seek and persist in new and rigorous academic challenges. These students may be self-motivated and self-sustainable.
WHOLE GRADE ADVANCEMENT
WHOLE GRADE ADVANCEMENT
Whole Grade Advancement occurs when students move through traditional curriculum at rates faster than typical. It means matching the level and complexity of the curriculum with the readiness and motivation of the student.
The student who is whole grade advanced is placed into the next grade and should achieve at the same level as the top students in the next grade. The student should be able to maintain this high level of performance throughout his/her school career.
Things to Consider :
Things to Consider :
1. When is the best time to Whole Grade Advance a student?
❖ Research suggests that the younger the student is when accelerated, the better he or she is able to make the adjustment. For these early decisions, it is important that a student has experienced a structured classroom, interacted with peers, and learned the challenges of sharing adult attention with other children. The start of an academic year would be an excellent time to consider whole grade advancement.
2. How important is age and school grade of siblings in considering grade advancement?
❖ It is not a recommended practice for a student to be skipped into the same grade as an older sibling. However, these students still need to be challenged and exposed to rigorous content, so though not recommended, is a practice that would be considered.
3. How important are non-academic, developmental characteristics such as age and physical size?
❖ Physical characteristics such as a child’s age and physical size are important factors to consider in the whole grade process but are not the main determining factors for advancement. This process considers the whole child when deciding what might be best for his/her academic future.
4. What about acceleration for the student who is advanced academically/intellectually but not socially-emotionally?
❖ Grade-skipping tends to produce a strong improvement in social adjustment (along with a small gain in self-esteem). When children do move to the higher grade, they are, in fact, more likely to make friends, perhaps because the older children may have similar interests or are slightly more socially mature. Holding back gifted students is much more likely to be stressful for them, or harmful in other ways (such as teaching them to ‘coast’ along, which may deny them the opportunity to learn to cope with intellectual challenges). Davidson Institute
5. What if the student is involved in competitive school athletics?
❖ Whole Grade Advancement may place some students at a competitive disadvantage in their particular sport. Parents and students should be made aware of this and encouraged to discuss any concerns with the school.
EARLY KINDERGARTEN ENTRY TIMELINE
If your child will be 4 years old by April 16th of the current year, and you would like to apply for
Early Kindergarten Entry (EKE), please refer to the following information.
1) After April 16th of the current year, aptitude and achievement evaluations may be completed by a licensed psychologist or psychological associate at the parent’s expense.*
2) Parents or legal guardians must complete the Early Kindergarten Entry application packet: www.wcpss.net
Once completed, parents or legal guardians must mail or deliver the required documents to the Office of Intervention and Advanced Learning Services (IALS), Crossroads I, 5625 Dillard Drive, Cary, NC 27518.
● All required documents must be received before the child’s application will be considered.
● The dates to apply are based on the child’s base school assignment. Application packets received before or after the dates listed will be returned to the sender or held until the acceptance dates.
Be sure to allow time for delivery if mailing packets so that the information is received within the accepted time frames. August 17th - October 2nd
CONSIDERATION FOR EKE:
CONSIDERATION FOR EKE:
In order for a child to be considered for Early Kindergarten Entry (EKE) a child must be 4 years old by April 16th of the current year. Wake County Public School System considers EKE to be equivalent to Whole Grade Advancement or the skipping of a grade. A candidate for EKE must show advanced development in intellectual, academic, social and emotional maturity in addition to an interest in learning.
EKE REQUIREMENTS:
EKE REQUIREMENTS:
A child must score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardized intelligence battery administered by a licensed psychologist or licensed psychological associate in order to be considered for the EKE program.
The child must also perform at or above the 98th percentile on a standardized reading or math achievement battery.
WCPSS does not provide recommendations for psychologists or psychological associates who conduct the intelligence and achievement evaluations.
All of the EKE required documents must be received within the designated dates noted on the EKE Timeline.
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