Continuum of Advanced Academic Services in FCPS

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development efforts and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.  

FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach recognizes unique student needs. It focuses on matching students to services, not labeling students. Through the continuum, students have: 

• Many entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need.  
• A cluster group of students with similar academic needs.  

Teachers and staff work together to provide the following levels of service at the elementary level: 

Access to Rigor, Grades K-6 (Level I)  

All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.  Teachers in Grades K-6 use:

• critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons. 
• materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a least of once per quarter. 

Because Access to Rigor is for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process. 

Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, Grades K-6 (Level II) 

Some students are strong in a specific subject area. Differentiated lessons are offered to these students in areas of specific academic strength. The advanced academic resource teacher collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenges through resources that extend and enrich the FCPS Program of Studies. Students who require additional challenge in specific subject areas access AAP curriculum in their content area of strength in the general education classroom.

Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these area(s) by: 

• Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects,
• Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness, and
• Using more materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.

Students are re-evaluated for subject-specific differentiation each year at the local school. 

Part-Time Services, Grades 3-6 (Level III)  

Some students have advanced academic needs in multiple subject areas in addition to specific subject differentiation. 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 one or more areas of academic strength at their local schools.

Each year a local committee screens all students in grades 3-6 for possible participation in advanced academic (Level III services). Students who receive AAP school-based services are challenged through lessons, models, and strategies designed to extend and enrich the POS in the four core subject areas.

They need part-time AAP services.  In part-time services:

• Students work with other students who have similar academic needs through weekly pull-out classes or weekly co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher. 
• Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics. 

Part-time services continue through Grade 6. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.  

Full-Time Services, Grades 3-8 (Level IV)  

Some advanced learners need a full-time advanced academic program with differentiated instruction in all four core content areas (Language Arts, mathematics, social studies, and science). 

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. 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.

The AAP Level IV program for students in grades 3 through 8 offers identified students a highly challenging instructional program that follows the FCPS Program of Studies. Differentiation in the depth, breadth, and pace of instruction is designed to meet the needs of advanced learners. Adaptations are made to the curriculum to provide an appropriate level of challenge for gifted learners. Students participate with the entire student body in school-based activities such as student government, physical education, band and strings, chorus, and other electives. 

The AAP Level IV program environment allows students to explore and express their ideas with other highly able peers. Teachers develop and implement units of study that lead to an understanding of the concepts, themes, and issues that are fundamental to the disciplines and that lead to an appreciation for relationships within and among disciplines. Students pursue independent investigations and ongoing research appropriate to the disciplines. 

Students eligible for full-time AAP services:

• Are cluster grouped with other students who have similar academic needs 
• Have full-time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, and 
• Use a curriculum that is differentiated through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content.  

Students access full-time AAP services at a Local Level IV program or a Level IV Center.

Full-time services continue through Grade 8. Students do not need to be evaluated each year. 

Young Scholars

The FCPS Young Scholars model seeks to identify and affirm, from an early age, students with high academic potential from groups historically underrepresented in advanced academic programming. The goal of the model is to eliminate barriers for Young Scholars’ access to and success in advanced academic opportunities in elementary, middle, and high school. 

Twice-Exceptional (2e)

Some gifted students with advanced learning needs may also have a learning disability. Twice-exceptional (or “2e”) students need strengths-based instruction while receiving advanced programming. The FCPS continuum of AAP services provides multiple entry points to meet student needs while also supporting their learning challenges. FCPS has created a 2e handbook to help schools and families understand how to identify and serve 2e students.