Acceleration
Acceleration is an academic intervention that moves students through an educational program at a rate faster or at an age that is younger than typical. It is about creating a better match between the readiness and motivation of a student and the level and pace of instruction. Academic acceleration can include grade skipping, early entrance to kindergarten or college, moving ahead in just one subject, and other ways of moving a student ahead to more challenging coursework.
The Iowa Acceleration Scale is a tool to help schools make effective decisions regarding a grade-skip.
The IAS guides a child study team (including educators, teachers, parents, and other professionals) through a discussion of the academic and social characteristics of the student.
The IAS provides:
- A more objective look at the student;
- An analysis of the major factors to be considered in making a decision;
- Guidelines for weighting the relative importance of the major factors;
- Documentation of the student’s strengths and concerns
- A numerical range to guide the discussion and decision of acceleration; and,
- A standard of comparison with students who have had successful accelerations.
Acceleration Resources
- Jeffco Board of Education Policy IKE Promotion, Retention, and Acceleration of Students
- This K-8 Acceleration Flow Chart outlines the acceleration process (which may vary depending on available information and the time of year.
Contact Us
Gifted and Talented
Phone: 303-982-6650
Email: gtinform@jeffco.k12.co.us
GT Resource Teachers
A GT Resource Teacher provides services to students, teachers, administrators and parents to meet individual students' needs. GT Resource Teachers serve many schools, and are not full-time at any school.
SEL & GT Counselors
A GT Counselor, also known as a Social Emotional Learning counselor (SELC), provides social-emotional learning support for GT Center classes and listens to GT Center students' concerns about academic, emotional or social concerns.
Building Leaders
Building Leaders are members of the school staff who share info from the GT Department with the individual school's community.