Geneva 304 Acceleration/Enrichment

Elementary Program Review

Background

History and Definitions

Long-Standing Acceleration and Enrichment (A/E) Program in 304

AccelerationThe practice of presenting content earlier and/or at a faster pace than typical.

EnrichmentUnique activities designed to expand upon the current curriculum and challenge students to think critically and deeply.

Replacement ProgramAn instructional program designed to take the place of the instruction of core content that occurs in the general education classroom.

Current Program Structure

Current AE Structure –

Instructional Time

• Third Grade: • AE Reading: 50 minutes

• Fourth Grade: • AE Reading: 50 minutes• AE Math: 60 minutes

• Fifth Grade: • AE Reading: 50 minutes• AE Math: 60 minutes

Most Recent Modifications -

Math Restructuring

• Elimination of third grade math block

• Increase of instructional time for AE math in fourth and fifth from 45 to 60 minutes.

• Increase in reading time from at all grades from 45 to 50 minutes.

Elementary AE ReadingChallenges with the current AE Reading structure

Disconnect withClassroom Schedule

Current AE Reading Block = 50 minutes

Current Classroom Reading Block = 90 minutes

AE and Classroom Teachers indicate that this discrepancy:

• Limits capacity for true replacement program model;

• Creates disjointed learning opportunities when students transition;

• Makes in-depth projects more challenging to implement.

Rigor in AE Reading: The Challenge of Time

• Vision-Focused Reading

• Rich, High-Quality Discussion

• Diverse and Engaging Enrichment Activities

• Student Conferencing and the Workshop Model

• Multimodal Literacies

• Incorporating Writing

Identification: Assessment Information

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP):

• Achievement Test

• Measures Academic Skills

• Focus on Complexity of Reading

• Background Knowledge, Vocabulary and Comprehension

Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT)

• Cognitive Test

• Measures Learning Potential

• Focus on Flexibility of Thought and Reasoning

• Relationships, Analogies, Classification

Identification: Process Background

• 2nd Grade assessment administration required for 3rd grade enrollment

• Historically: MAP multiple times per year, CogAT in spring

• CogAT transitioned to online administration in 18-19

• Online CogAT Administration had key differences

• Less Teacher involvement in process

• Questions no longer read to students

Identification: Historical Trends for Reading

AE Reading Enrollment2018-2019 2019-2020 *2020-2021 2021-2022 Grand Total

AE Reading Third 39 39 18 26 122

AE Reading Fourth 65 48 30 44 187

Next Steps

• Continue to reflect on best practices and data

• Ongoing collaboration with elementary AE faculty, administration, classroom teachers

• Consider potential programmatic adjustments

• Recommendations to Board in the coming months

• Implement potential programmatic adjustments for 21-22

Geneva 304 Acceleration/Enrichment

Elementary Program Review