Course Acceleration
Course Acceleration:
Opportunities for course acceleration exist at the secondary level. Most course acceleration occurs through Honors level and AP courses.
Double Accelerated/Pre-Algebra Honors Math for 6th grade students
Instructional Challenge facilitates the identification of a small number of mathematically gifted and talented fifth grade students for placement in Double Accelerated/Pre-Algebra Honors Math as sixth graders. Teaching strategies and approaches that encourage and challenge mathematically talented learners are implemented. Students go deeper into the content and questions of the curriculum and proceed at a much faster pace in this challenging course.
Ability, aptitude and achievement data, along with work habits, are considered when making this decision. The class is extremely demanding, and students who are successful generally meet the criteria in all areas. In order to be successful as they move through future math curriculum at a radically accelerated pace, they need to have a solid and in-depth understanding of concepts and skills and be self-motivated learners.
When we select students for placement, we screen across the district for students who show exceptional ability. Data is gathered from the state ELA and Math assessments, the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test given in 4th grade as well as other district assessments. The Instructional Challenge Specialists review the data and identify students who score at predetermined benchmarks. Students who qualify are reviewed by the building's ARP ( Acceleration Review Process) committee and a recommendation regarding placement in Double Accelerated/Pre-Algebra Honors Math is made to parents.
We do not have a certain number of spots available per building. Rather we are looking for those few students cross-district who demonstrate such exceptional math ability that they require a program of study that accommodates their unique learning needs.