5532

ACCELERATION AND ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT

5532

Acceleration occurs when academic opportunities are provided that allow students to proceed more rapidly through the usual progression of required skills and objectives for a given grade level or course of study, to work above the assigned grade level, and/or to complete studies at an earlier age.

The staff will support individual learners with acceleration opportunities when student performance demonstrates need. The School Based Committee for Gifted Education will conduct a thorough review of the student' classroom performance, work samples, grades over time and other portfolio evidence. The School Based Committee may recommend the student for content acceleration. The recommendation of the School Based Committee shall be presented to the parents and principal for approval.

In grades 6-8, the State Board of Education allows students to receive graduation credit for high school mathematics, second language, science, and social studies courses, as well as English I, taken while the students are in middle school.  Students must achieve level III or IV on an EOC, if available, to meet that high school graduation requirement. High school courses taken in middle school will count toward graduation requirements, but the students? GPA will be computed with courses taken during the high school years only. Advancing or placing out of a particular course in a high school may award a credit toward high school graduation. Credits for high school graduation are based on approved instructional experiences, group or individual, in grades 9 through12 or through approved experiences at off-campus institutions. See State Board Policy GCS-M-001.

A.

Differentiated Learning Opportunities

1.

Students shall be provided appropriate instruction that is differentiated to meet the varied needs, interests, and learning styles of students.

2.

Teachers consult with the school' Academically Gifted Resource Teacher and the School Based Committee for Gifted Education for support with gifted learners.

B.

Recommended forms of Accelerative Practice include:

1.

Early Entrance to Kindergarten

2.

Whole Grade Advancement

3.

Curriculum Compacting

4.

Grade Telescoping

5.

Subject Area Acceleration

6.

Cross-Grade Grouping

7.

Concurrent Enrollment for Content Area Needs

8.

Advanced Placement

9.

Mentorship

10.

NC Virtual Public School

11.

High school credit at the middle school level

12.

Dual Enrollment

13.

Early high school graduation and admission to college

Adopted: November 9, 2010