Acceleration is an option utilized by our school district to provide an appropriate placement for a student.  Both subject and whole grade options may be utilized depending upon the child's academic need.  

A process is in place that allows the gifted staff to determine if this placement would suit this child by utilizing steps to involve parents, students, principals and teachers to evaluate a number of factors.  Recommendations are made by the gifted office.

In recognition of the diverse needs of students, the Athens city School District supports acceleration as appropriate to student needs.  The following forms of acceleration will be recognized:

Early Entrance Kindergarten:  Child’s fifth birthday does not occur before or on September 30^th of the year he/she would typically be admitted to kindergarten.

Grade Skipping: The student is moved ahead of normal grade placement (i.e. placing a third grader directly into fourth grade).

Content Acceleration and Continuous Progress: The student is placed for part of a day with students at a more advanced grade level for one or more subjects without being assigned to a higher grade (i.e. a fifth grade student going to sixth grade language arts OR a student moves through the first grade math series at a faster rate and while remaining in first grade, continues through the second grade math materials).

Concurrent Enrollment: The student is taking a course at one level and receiving credit for successful completion of a parallel course at a higher level (i.e. a Middle School student taking

Algebra for credit at the high school level, while also earning Middle School math credit; OR a student receiving high school graduation credit while taking college course work for credit at the same time such as Post-Secondary Enrollment Options).

Credit by Examination: A student receives credit at the high school or college level upon

successful completion of an examination as determined by the appropriate instructor and the

gifted coordinator.

Mentorship: A student works with an expert in investigative activities, inquiries, and productions  in which the learner attempts to think, feel and act like a practicing professional.  Both the mentor and the student have pre-determined goals and outcomes.

Independent Study: Students take an Independent Investigation to the next step by creating a real life product and becoming an expert in that field through research and design (i.e. distance learning and correspondence courses can also be considered an independent study or concurrent enrollment if credit is given at another level).

Early Graduation from High School:  A student has completed all state graduation requirements

in less than the typical four years and has successfully completed the Ohio Graduation Test.

                                                

According to section 3321.01 of the Ohio Administrative Code, “all children who will be the proper age for entrance to kindergarten or first grade by the first day of January of the school year for which admission is requested shall be evaluated upon the request of the child’s parent or legal guardian.  Children who will not yet be the proper age for entrance to kindergarten or first grade by the first day of January of the school year for which admission is requested shall also be evaluated for possible early admittance if referred by an educator within the district, a pre-school educator who knows the child, or pediatrician or psychologist who knows the child.  Children who will not yet be the proper age for entrance to kindergarten or first grade by the first day of January of the school year for which admission is requested may also be evaluated for possible early admittance at the discretion of the principal of the school to which the student may be admitted”.

1.      Referrals for early entrance are directed to the building principal of the elementary school where the student would potentially be admitted.  Any documented evidence of need for early entrance should be submitted at this time.  The building principal may recommend testing by the school psychologist.

2.      The referred student’s principal (or his or her designee) shall convene an evaluation committee to determine the most appropriate available learning environment for the referred student.  The committee shall be comprised of but not limited to the following:

        (a)  The principal or assistant principal;

        (b)  A kindergarten teacher;

        (c)  A parent or legal guardian of the referred student;

        (d)  A gifted education coordinator or gifted intervention specialist.

3.      A parent or legal guardian of the evaluated student may appeal in writing the decision of the evaluation committee to the Superintendent within 30 days.

4.      The Superintendent shall review the appeal and notify the parent or legal guardian who filed the appeal of his or her final decision within 30 days of receiving the appeal.  The

        Superintendent’s decision shall be final.

5.      Any student meeting the assessment qualifications will be admitted to Kindergarten on a conditional basis (4 weeks) as stated by the Ohio Revised code.

Students referred for early entrance must meet the following requirements:

Criteria for the selected acceleration option is dependent upon the placement and rigor of the option.  The more permanent or rigorous the option, the more advanced the criteria will be.  Regardless of the option, the following criteria will be taken into consideration by a team of professionals in the area, including but not limited to the classroom teacher, gifted education coordinator, and the building principal.

1.      Above average ability based on an individual IQ test; AND/OR

2.      Nationally-normed, standardized testing at or above the 95^th percentile in the area(s) considered for acceleration; AND/OR

3.      Completion and review of the Iowa Acceleration Scale.

4.      Data on class performance.

5.      Commitment of parent, student and involved stakeholders.

Criteria

Students eligible for grade skipping shall meet the following criteria before the final decision is made:

        IQ score at least two standard deviations from the mean minus the standard error of measure on an individual IQ test; AND/OR

        Achievement test on an individual or state approved group test with the total battery at or above the 95^th percentile;

        As available, data on task commitment/work ethic; sample of work; and consideration of social/emotional readiness;

        Documented performance on the Iowa Acceleration Scale.

If a teacher, parent, or administrator believes a child could benefit from grade acceleration and may meet the listed criteria, the following steps should be taken:

1.      The Acceleration Recommendation Form shall be completed and returned to the gifted services office.

2.      Unless the student is referred to the Gifted Services office by a parent or legal guardian, the gifted services coordinator shall obtain written permission from the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to evaluate the student for possible accelerated placement. The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will be notified within 30 days of testing of the assessment results.

3.      If the student meets the criteria for assessment, the gifted education coordinator/GIS will begin the process of data collection and observation with the assistance of the building principal and the regular classroom teacher.

4.      Once data collection is completed, the gifted education coordinator/GIS will notify the building principal so a meeting may be scheduled with the regular classroom teacher, gifted education coordinator/GIS, and teacher of gifted (if applicable).  At that meeting a date will be scheduled to meet with the student’s parents to discuss results and service options for the student.

5.      Grade acceleration will not occur without full parental consent in writing.

Criteria

        Standardized testing results at or above the 95^th percentile in the specific academic area(s);

        Documented measures of achievement based on state academic content standards.

        Consideration of student’s maturity and desire for accelerated placement.

        

1.      Unless the student is referred to the Gifted Services office by a parent or legal guardian, the gifted services coordinator shall obtain written permission from the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to evaluate the student for possible accelerated placement. The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will be notified within 30 days of testing of the assessment results.

2.      Student’s curriculum and/or WEP will be reviewed by gifted intervention specialist to determine appropriate curriculum modification options.

3.      GIS will work with classroom teacher(s) to begin implementation of the appropriate curriculum modification.

4.      Modifications will be reviewed periodically with GIS and classroom teacher(s).

                                                

Students eligible for the listed options will need to check requirements with the middle school and/or high school guidance counselors.  Options shall be reflected in each child’s Differentiated Educational Plan. The teacher of gifted or the gifted education coordinator will be available as requested for assistance with program placement.

Students referred to the high school guidance counseling office for early high school graduation will be evaluated based on past academic performance, measures of achievement based on state academic content standards, and successful completion of state mandated graduation requirements.  The committee shall consider the student’s thoughts on possible accelerated placement in its deliberations.

If the service option provided as indicated on the child’s WEP is no longer effective, the following procedures will be in effect:

1.      Parent, teacher, or student will call a meeting with all involved parties to discuss the concern with the provided service option.

2.      The service option may be altered on the child’s WEP or a probationary period may be established with the same service option with written modifications listed.