Decades of research have consistently found that acceleration is an effective practice that can significantly enhance the academic and intellectual growth of advanced students and support healthy social and emotional development when students are selected for accelerated placements using a research-based process. Accelerated Placement is open to all students who demonstrate high ability and who may benefit from advanced programming.
BOE Policy 6:135
ACCELERATED PLACEMENT includes:
Grade level acceleration
Acceleration in a single subject
Accerlated placement into kindergarten or first grade
Automatic placement into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework for students who exceed state standards identififed by state asessment results in grades 9-12.
ACCELERATED PLACEMENT identification:
Decision-making process that is fair, equitable, and involves multiple individuals, e.g. District administrators, teachers, school support personnel, and a student's parent(s)/guardian(s);
Notification process that notifies a student's parent(s)/guardian(s) of a decision affecting a student's participation in Accelerated Placement; and
Assessment process that includes multiple valid, reliable indicators determining whether accerlation is appropriate.
Starting in 2nd grade, District 202 annually screens all students for Accelerated Placement with programming beginning in 3rd grae and each subsequent year.
Who? | When? | What Measures are Used? |
2nd Grade | For accelerated placement beginning in 3rd grade. | 9 data points from the following:
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5th Grade | For accelerated placement beginning in 6th grade. | 9 data points from the following:
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8-11 Grades | Automatic placement in the next most rigorous level of coursework during the next academic school year in grades 9-12 | Students who meet or exceed on state standards in the following:
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Please note: In grades 9-12, open enrollment is also utilized as long as students have completed prerequisite coursework.
Sample Course Sequences: District 202 Honors Course Sequence
APPEALS PROCESS & ACCELERATION REQUESTS:
Parents, teachers, and administration may request accelerated placement testing outside of the universal screening opportunites by contacting their school's administration. The following review process will be utilitzed for all requests:
Elementary & Middle School - Written appeal requests must be submitted to building administration before the school year begins or upon enrollment. For more information see the Elementary and Middle School links below.
Elementary - Elementary Accelerated Placement K-2 & Elementary Accelerated Placement 3-5
Middle School - 6-8 Accelerated Appeals Process
High Schools practice open-enrollment for al students who are intersted in taking accelerated coursework. Students who are not recommended for accelerated courses and/or do not qualify through state assessments can complete a declination form and work with school counselors and/or building administration to enroll in courses, pending availability. Declination forms are available through student counselors in the Student Services office at each high school.
High School Credit for Non-District Experiences
This option is limited to full time students or students who are not on schedule to graduate on time. A maximum of two correspondence credits may be taken to meet graduation requirements unless the building principal grants an exception. The grades earned in any correspondence course will not count toward the student's overall GPA. Prior to enrolling in any correspondence course, students need to meet with a counselor for course approval. High School correspondence credits must be accredited by Cognia or comparable associations.
Middle school students seeking credit for high school courses outside of District 202, must seek prior approval from district administration by submitting the request form linked below. Correspondence credits will only be allowable from Illinois Virtual School and Joliet Junior College if approved in Algebra, Geometry and Biology.
Form: Non-District Coursework