Acceleration
D39 Policy, as required by Illinois School Code, establishes a process for accelerated placement.
Understanding Acceleration
At its core, acceleration provides instruction focused on standards and skills typically taught at a higher grade level. An acceleration pathway is designed for students who consistently perform beyond grade-level expectations and whose learning needs cannot be fully met through traditional classroom enrichment and differentiation. Acceleration options include: (a) single-subject acceleration, (b) grade-level acceleration, and (c) early entrance to kindergarten or first grade.
Types of Acceleration
Single-Subject Acceleration
For students that qualify, single-subject acceleration places students in the next highest grade level, given the student's age, for a specific subject (math or English Language Arts). The qualifying student continues to attend their other classes/courses at their typical grade level.
Grade-Level Acceleration
For students that qualify, grade-level acceleration places students in the next highest grade level than is typical for a student's age. In this practice, acceleration occurs for all subject areas and/or courses.
Early Entry to Kindergarten
For students that qualify, early entry to Kindergarten is an option for students whose fifth birthday falls after the September 1st registration cutoff.
Early Entry to First Grade
For students that qualify, early entry to First Grade is an option for students whose sixth birthday falls after the September 1st registration cutoff.
Frequently Asked Questions
For further information, refer to our Acceleration FAQ page.
