Advanced Academic Programs

Advanced Academic Program Overview

Young Scholars is designed to find and nurture advanced academic potential in students from historically underrepresented populations.Curricular interventions and support are provided through the collaboration of the classroom teacher and the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher.As students progress through elementary and secondary school, continuing support and opportunities for accessing rigorous coursework are provided by school staff.

The Advanced Academic Resource Teacher and classroom teachers teach nine higher order thinking strategies (Level I) across all subject areas and grade levels. The strategies are embedded in lessons that incorporate 21st Century thinking skills and extend and enrich the Program of Studies (POS) for all learners.  Student responses to the lessons are also used to collect evidence of advanced academic potential in order to ensure equity and increase access to Advanced Academic Programs.

Differentiated lessons (Level II) are offered to students in areas of specific academic strength. The Advanced Academic Resource Teacher collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenges and resources within the general education program.

Students identified by a local school screening committee for advanced academic services (Level III) are challenged through models and strategies designed to extend and enrich the POS in the four core subject areas. Students receive direct instruction from the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher in their local schools.

Katie Le, Advanced Academic
Resource Teacher

Students found eligible for placement in a full-time Advanced Academic Program (Level IV) through a central selection process receive a highly challenging instructional program in the four core subject areas.  The Level IV program is designed to meet the needs of advanced learners with a strong emphasis on higher level thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. Students have ongoing opportunities for reflection and self-assessment that develop an understanding of the characteristics, demands, and responsibilities of advanced intellectual development.

Note: Parents wishing to refer children for Level IV, AAP Center placement must submit a Parent/Guardian Referral Form by the due date, February 5, 2010. Placement for newly eligible students will begin in the 2010-2011 school year.

For more information, and to access the Level IV referral form, go to AAP forms.

Web links for Parents and Students

FCPS Advanced Academic Opportunities

National Association for Gifted Children

Virginia Association for the Gifted

William and Mary's Center for Gifted Education

Twice-Exceptional Newsletter

ThinkFun Games

This web page contains links to one or more web pages that are outside the FCPS network. FCPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages.

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