Acceleration is the best-researched educational programming option for academically talented/gifted/advanced students, yet it is not used often because many educators have not had the opportunity to learn about it. We also worry about the social impact of moving a student up either a whole grade or in a specific subject. Research tells us that acceleration is a good option to consider for many talented students, and there are over 20 forms of acceleration from which to choose. Several tools are available to help educators make objective, informed decisions. We will talk both about subject acceleration and whole-grade acceleration. The presenter, Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik, is a co-author of the Iowa Acceleration Scale and the Integrated Acceleration System, as well as Developing Academic Acceleration Policies.
Leader Action Resource: Identifying Gifted Multilingual Learners (MLs)
In the gifted education space, much of the research highlights students’ socio-emotional needs, equitable identification practices, and classroom intervention strategies to support advanced learners. However, far less research exists that focuses on the secondary space, and even less on a student’s transition into secondary. Gifted-identified students still need and deserve advanced services in middle and high school. This resource includes guidance to help understand the gifted education landscape and what the research says about students’ unique instructional and socio-emotional needs as they transition into secondary. As a series of resources, these one-pagers provide research-driven key takeaways and specific action steps you can begin immediately to support students’ transition to secondary.
