Acceleration

Educational acceleration is one of the cornerstones of exemplary gifted education practices, with more research supporting this intervention than any other in the literature on gifted individuals. The practice of educational acceleration has long been used to match high level student general ability and specific talent with optimal learning opportunities. The purposes of acceleration as a practice with the gifted are 1) to adjust the pace of instruction to the students’ capability in order to develop a sound work ethic, 2) to provide an appropriate level of challenge in order to avoid the boredom from repetitious learning, and 3) to reduce the time period necessary for students to complete traditional schooling. Acceleration benefits many highly capable individuals by better motivating them toward schooling, enhancing their involvement with extracurricular activities, promoting more challenging options in the middle school and high school years, and preparing them to begin contributing to society at an earlier age. While not as widely used as a practice with diverse gifted learners, evidence suggests that it can be a successful strategy with low income, minority, and students with learning problems as well. Therefore, NAGC strongly endorses this practice as one important avenue to address the needs of gifted learners.

Acceleration practices involve allowing a student to move through traditional educational organizations more rapidly, based on readiness and motivation. Research documents the potential academic benefits and positive outcomes of all forms of appropriately implemented acceleration strategies for intellectually gifted and academically talented learners. These research-based best practices include grade skipping, telescoping, early entrance into kindergarten or college, credit by examination, and acceleration in content areas through such programs as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate at the high school level. Instructional adaptations in the classroom such as compacting, which allows for more economic use of learning time in a specific subject, are also a desirable and best practice for talented students.

Both group and individual decisions can be made in respect to accelerative options. For example, both AP and IB programs by virtue of their structure and content offer college-level work. As long as students meet prerequisites and accept the rigors of such programs, gifted and other learners can and should take advantage of such group-oriented programs. At an individual level, students may be tutored or engage in online coursework at an accelerated level. Such options can be more readily tailored for individual needs.

Talent search programs at selected universities provide early assessment of advanced mathematical and verbal abilities in students such that decisions on appropriate accelerative options can be constructed inside and outside of schools. For example, several acceleration opportunities can be accessed through online coursework in specific content areas or offered at university sites. Advanced Placement as an accelerative option may be made available throughout the high school years or earlier through independent study, tutorials, or special classes.

Acceleration options should be available at each stage of development in a child’s educational program from early entrance to primary school up through early college entry in order to even out the curriculum challenge. Parents may also wish to seek out accelerative opportunities beyond the school setting in order to accommodate an individual student need that cannot be met in traditional school settings.

Yet acceleration decisions should be made thoughtfully with the needs of the whole child in mind. In decision-making about the appropriateness of a particular form of acceleration and the extent of acceleration for a given child at a given time, educators and parents should consider the child’s intellectual and academic profile, socio-emotional and physical development, and preferences and dispositions of the child relative to the decision since acceleration may not always be the appropriate option for every gifted child. Factors that enhance the success of acceleration practices include 1) positive attitudes of teachers, 2) timelines related to the decision, 3) parental support, and 4) careful monitoring of the implementation.

Highly able students with capability and motivation to succeed in placements beyond traditional age/grade parameters should be provided the opportunity to enroll in appropriate classes and educational settings. The National Association for Gifted Children program standards provide some guidance for using accelerative practices on a routine basis at all stages of development.

Acceleration policies in schools should ensure that opportunities such as the ones described here are available provisions in all gifted programs for individuals and groups of learners ready to advance beyond the standard curriculum at any age and in any area of learning.