What is SSA? 

Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) is the practice of assigning a student to a higher-grade level than is typical, given the student's age, for the purpose of providing access to appropriately challenging learning opportunities. SSA is an accelerative practice in WCPSS that allows students to show mastery of the content of a course without having taken the course.  Single Subject Acceleration means that your child will skip a grade in math or ELA, not both, if they pass the SSA test.

For example, if your child is currently in 3rd grade and takes the SSA 4^th grade math test and passes, then the following year, in 4th grade, they will take 5th grade math.  They would skip 4^th grade math because they passed the SSA test.  Any student who passes the SSA test in the spring does not begin SSA services until the following school year.

 

Is the schedule for an SSA student a traditional schedule?  

Not typically.  The school-wide schedule does not match up perfectly for most SSA students.  The school-wide schedule does its best to account for all PreK-5 students in the building, but it is often impossible to catch everything.  Therefore, most SSA students have non-traditional schedules.  This means they have a different schedule than their homeroom peers and their SSA peers.  Oftentimes students have independent blocks during their day where they are assigned independent work to complete.  This is the result of them attending an SSA class which causes them to miss other core instruction.  Sometimes SSA students have to eat lunch and/or attend recess with other grade levels.  Again, this is a result of them attending their SSA class. 

What is the process for Single Subject Acceleration?  

Parents and guardians can nominate his/her child to skip a grade level of content in either Language Arts OR Mathematics.  This nomination allows the school to test that student to see if SSA is appropriate according to the WCPSS's cut off scores.  All students who test must earn a certain score determined by county leadership in order to qualify for SSA services.

 

Who do I contact at Turner Creek Elementary regarding SSA?   

Anne Sheehan is the SSA contact for TCES.  Email her at asheehan@wcpss.net with any questions regarding SSA testing and SSA student schedules.

 

 

 

Spring 2023 SSA Testing Information

 

Test Request Deadlines 

Test Requests for the 2023-24 school year must be submitted during your school’s calendar deadline.  No test requests will be accepted outside of the dates listed below.

•  Leadership Academies, Modified and Year-Round Track 1:  Feb. 20-24, 2023

•  Traditional Calendar and Year-Round Tracks 2, 3 and 4:  March 20-24, 2023

Testing Windows

Students will be tested for SSA placement for the 2023-24 school year during the testing windows indicated below. No requests for testing outside these windows will be accepted. 

• Year-Round Tracks 1, 2 and 3:  April 4 - 19, 2023

• Year-Round Track 4:  April 24 - May 3, 2023

 

How to Request SSA Testing for My Student

 

Step #1: Review the SSA information for families using the links below.  Click on the words to access the linked information.

🔗Spring 2023 - SSA Family Informational Presentation

🔗Examples of Possible Schedules for SSA Students

🔗SSA FAQs 2023 for Families (English) 

🔗SSA FAQs for 2023 for Families (Spanish)

🔗Miss Sheehan’s AIG Website - WCPSS Acceleration Opportunities

🔗WCPSS SSA Webpage

 

Step #2: Complete the Google Form linked below for each student you want tested for SSA.  The SSA contact will reach out with testing information as we get closer to the testing windows.

 

🔗 Spring 2023 - Test Request Google Form  - This form needs to be completed for each student you are requesting testing for.  If you have multiple students, you will need to complete the form multiple times. 

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