Prospect Heights School District 23

Acceleration Procedures

Overview

The Accelerated Placement Act calls for schools to have a policy for identifying and advancing a student who needs early admission to kindergarten or first grade, single subject acceleration or grade level. Accelerated placement is the placement of a student at the instructional level that best matches the student’s needs by allowing access to a curriculum that is usually reserved for children who are older or in higher grades than the student.

Board Policy on Acceleration

Prospect Heights District 23 adopted an acceleration policy as of July 2018. The policy reads as follows:

The District provides an Accelerated Placement Program (APP). The APP advances the District’s goal of providing educational programs with opportunities for each student to develop to his or her maximum potential. The APP provides an educational setting with curriculum options usually reserved for students who are older or in higher grades than the student participating in the APP. APP options include, but may not be limited to: (a) accelerating a student in a single subject; (b) other grade-level acceleration; and (c) early entrance to kindergarten or first grade. Participation in the APP is open to all students who demonstrate high ability and who may benefit from accelerated placement. It is not limited to students who have been identified as gifted and talented. Eligibility to participate in the District’s APP shall not be conditioned upon the protected classifications identified in Board policy 7:10, Equal Educational Opportunities, or any factor other than the student’s identification as an accelerated learner.

The Superintendent or designee shall implement an APP that includes:

1. Decision-making processes that are fair, equitable, and involve multiple individuals, e.g. District administrators, teachers, and school support personnel, and a student’s parent(s)/guardian(s);

2. Notification processes that notify a student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) of a decision affecting a student’s participation in the APP; and

3. Assessment processes that include multiple valid, reliable indicators.

The Superintendent or designee shall annually notify the community, parent(s)/guardian(s), students, and school personnel about the APP, the process for referring a student for possible evaluation for accelerated placement, and the methods used to determine whether a student is eligible for accelerated placement. Notification may: (a) include varied communication methods, such as student handbooks and District or school websites; and (b) be provided in multiple languages, as appropriate.

LEGAL REF.:

105 ILCS 5/14A.

CROSS REF.: 6:10 (Educational Philosophy and Objectives), 6:130 (Program for the Gifted), 7:10 (Equal Educational Opportunities), 7:50 (School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools)

Adopted: July 11, 2018

Prospect Heights School District 23

Early Entrance to Kindergarten or First Grade

Parents/guardians wishing to apply for early entrance for their child must contact their building principal, submit the Early Admission Parent Request Form/Questionnaire, agree to have your child assessed in Reading and Math by our school psychologist, and submit any outside data for consideration (if applicable).

The application window is February 1 - April 1. Parent applications submitted after April 1 will be accepted but may delay the district’s placement decision such that it could occur after the start of the upcoming school year. A child will be placed according to age until a decision has been reached.

Children who are accepted for early entrance will be enrolled on a probationary basis. The school staff will assess each child's initial adjustment to school during the first 30 school days. If a child's initial adjustment is unsuccessful, the principal will request that the child enroll when the child meets the state’s enrollment age requirement for the appropriate grade level or the child may be moved to the appropriate grade level. If it is determined that the child's adjustment is successful, the child may

continue enrollment in the early entrance program.

Application for Early Entrance to Kindergarten or First Grade

Subject Area Acceleration

District 23 has identified single-subject acceleration as appropriate for those students who are significantly advanced in a subject area. To be eligible for acceleration, the student must have superior academic performance at their current grade level. Parents/guardians wishing to apply for acceleration for their child must contact their building principal and complete a request form to begin the process.

Single Subject Area Acceleration Request Form

Grade Level Acceleration

District 23 has identified whole grade acceleration as appropriate for those students who are significantly advanced in multiple subject areas. To be eligible for acceleration, the student must have superior academic performance at their current grade level. Parents/guardians wishing to apply for acceleration for their child must contact their building principal and complete a Request Form to begin the process.

Grade Level Acceleration Request Form