Questions to ask your K-8 school about Advanced Learning
These questions are divided into three categories: Identification, Instruction and Communication
* Questions are intended as a starting point for a discussion with your school. You may need to focus your questions differently depending on the degree to which your school has made progress in Advanced Learning implementation.
Identification questions
(1) How do you determine if a student is advanced beyond grade level?
(2) How do you determine if a student could benefit from more challenge instructionally?
(3) How do you determine if a student is an “advanced learner”?
(4) Are there different levels of Advanced Learning identification? How are those levels determined?
(5) Which assessments are used for identification in grades K-2, grades 3-5 and grades 6-8?
(6) What measures are used to identify students beyond standardized tests and assessments?
(7) In what areas (beyond Math and Literacy) does our school identify students as Advanced Learners?
(8) How does our school identify and support students from underrepresented groups (Low-income, English Language Learners, Latino, African American) as Advanced Learners?
(9) How does our school identify and support students who have need for support in both Special Education and Advanced Learning?
(10) Can a parent or a teacher recommend a student to be considered for Advanced Learning instruction?
Instruction questions
(1) What role does the Advanced Learning-Instructional Resource Teacher (AL-IRT) have for instruction at our school?
(2) What does instruction beyond grade level include for different subjects?
(3) How are students who are advanced beyond grade level or the level of their classroom grouped for instruction? Are students grouped with others at a similar level for daily instruction in core subjects?
(4) Is there a way for a student to show knowledge of a unit before instruction begins (pre-testing)?
(5) What happens instructionally for a student who already knows most of what will be taught for a unit?
(6) Is there a way for a student to show they could learn the material at faster pace if given the opportunity? Can that opportunity be provided?
(7) For grades 6-8, are there accelerated and advanced options for daily instruction in the core subjects; English, Math, Science and Social Studies?
Communication Questions
(1) How are families notified if their student has been identified as an “Advanced Learner”?
(2) Who is responsible for notifying families of identifications and the progress a student is making in each area of identification?
(3) Can I see if my student has been identified in Infinite Campus?
(4) How is our school communicating with our entire school community about Advanced Learning given continued confusion and misperceptions about Advanced Learners?
These questions are divided into three categories: Identification, Instruction and Communication
* Questions are intended as a starting point for a discussion with your school. You may need to focus your questions differently depending on the degree to which your school has made progress in Advanced Learning implementation.
Identification questions
(1) How do you determine if a student is advanced beyond grade level?
(2) How do you determine if a student could benefit from more challenge instructionally?
(3) How do you determine if a student is an “advanced learner”?
(4) Are there different levels of Advanced Learning identification? How are those levels determined?
(5) Which assessments are used for identification in grades K-2, grades 3-5 and grades 6-8?
(6) What measures are used to identify students beyond standardized tests and assessments?
(7) In what areas (beyond Math and Literacy) does our school identify students as Advanced Learners?
(8) How does our school identify and support students from underrepresented groups (Low-income, English Language Learners, Latino, African American) as Advanced Learners?
(9) How does our school identify and support students who have need for support in both Special Education and Advanced Learning?
(10) Can a parent or a teacher recommend a student to be considered for Advanced Learning instruction?
Instruction questions
(1) What role does the Advanced Learning-Instructional Resource Teacher (AL-IRT) have for instruction at our school?
(2) What does instruction beyond grade level include for different subjects?
(3) How are students who are advanced beyond grade level or the level of their classroom grouped for instruction? Are students grouped with others at a similar level for daily instruction in core subjects?
(4) Is there a way for a student to show knowledge of a unit before instruction begins (pre-testing)?
(5) What happens instructionally for a student who already knows most of what will be taught for a unit?
(6) Is there a way for a student to show they could learn the material at faster pace if given the opportunity? Can that opportunity be provided?
(7) For grades 6-8, are there accelerated and advanced options for daily instruction in the core subjects; English, Math, Science and Social Studies?
Communication Questions
(1) How are families notified if their student has been identified as an “Advanced Learner”?
(2) Who is responsible for notifying families of identifications and the progress a student is making in each area of identification?
(3) Can I see if my student has been identified in Infinite Campus?
(4) How is our school communicating with our entire school community about Advanced Learning given continued confusion and misperceptions about Advanced Learners?