AAP Newsletter

Spring Newsletter

Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Elementary Continuum of Services

Spring AAP Newsletter ES (PDF)
Arabic | Chinese | English | Korean | Spanish | Urdu | Vietnamese
Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)
Screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
Screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Students can be screened for subject specific and part time AAP services at any time in the school year. In the spring, schools review data on all students to determine services for the start of the next school year.
• Parents or guardians can initiate the screening process by submitting the AAP School-Based Services Referral Form to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) or Assistant Principal by April 15, annually.
•The AAP School-Based Services Referral Form may be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-prog… or by searching “AAP Forms” at https://www.fcps.edu/ .
•Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified by the local elementary school of their student’s eligibility status by early June.
Screening Process for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Multiple criteria are reviewed holistically to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. Committees consider student work from opportunities with AAP lessons, examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities, progress reports, achievement and ability scores, and parent or guardian input. Committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom.
Appeals Process for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligible decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration by the local school screening committee. This new information should be submitted to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher or Assistant Principal.
Subject Specific and Part-Time Services Overview
Subject Specific and Part-Time Services in Elementary School
FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach allows for a focus on matching services to students’ needs rather than labeling students. Students have:
•Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
•A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to support student learning and growth.
Teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of school-based services at the elementary level:
Updated 3/13/2023
Access to Rigor, Grades K-6
All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.
•All teachers use critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons
•Classroom teachers provide opportunities using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a minimum of once per quarter.
Because Access to Rigor services are for all FCPS students, there is not a screening process.
Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, Grades K-6
Some students require differentiation beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in at least one specific subject area. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these areas by:
•Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects,
•Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness, and
•Providing additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.
Student needs for subject specific differentiation are re-evaluated each year at the local school.
Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6
Some students have advanced academic abilities in multiple subject areas and require differentiation beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in multiple content areas.
•Students work with other students that 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.
Screening for Full-Time Services
Screening Timeline for Full-Time Services
Screening for Full-Time AAP services happens at the district/central level rather than by local schools. For your planning for next school year, please know that screening for Full-Time services occurs during two specific screening cycles:
•Fall screening is available for students who are new to FCPS since January.

Fall referrals are due October 15, annually.
•Spring screening is available for any Grade 2-7 FCPS-enrolled student.

The referral window is from the first day of school - December 15, annually.
For more information, please visit the AAP website at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and… .
Full-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-8
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 eligible for Full-Time AAP services are cluster grouped on a Full-Time basis and receive:
•Full-Time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, and
•Curriculum that is differentiated through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content.
Full-Time services continue through Grade 8. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.

Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Elementary Continuum of Services

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. A continuum of advanced academic services is offered for students in Grades K–12. This model is designed to match services to unique student needs, moving away from a focus on student labels.

Through the continuum, students benefit from:

Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to foster intellectual growth.

Teachers, Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs), and school administrators work together to provide the following services at the elementary level:

Access to Rigor, Grades K–6

All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.

All teachers use critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons.
Classroom teachers provide opportunities using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a minimum of once per quarter.

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

Subject-Specific Services, Grades K–6

Some students are strong in a specific subject area. 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
Providing additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.

Student needs for Subject-Specific services are re-evaluated each year at the local school.

Part-Time Services, Grades 3–6

Some students have advanced academic needs in multiple subject areas in addition to Subject-Specific services. They need Part-Time AAP services.

Students work with other students that 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

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 eligible for Full-Time AAP services are cluster grouped on a Full-Time basis and receive:

Full-Time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, and
Curriculum that is differentiated through depth, complexity, and acceleration of content.

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

Elementary Family Information Meeting

A family information meeting will be held at the local school to discuss Advanced Academic Programs (AAP). At the meeting, the AART will:

Provide information on the continuum of AAP services.
Explain the screening processes.
Answer questions about advanced academic services.

Screening and Eligibility for Advanced Academic Program Services

Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP Services:
Eligibility decisions are made by a committee at the local school, and screening is ongoing throughout the school year.
To refer for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services, submit the AAP Subject-Specific or Part Time Referral Form to the AART at the local school.

Full-Time AAP Services:
Eligibility decisions are made by a countywide central screening committee.
There are specific screening cycles for Full-Time services:

Fall Screening:Available to students who have enrolled in FCPS since January. The referral window is from the first day of school to October 15.
Spring Screening:Available to any FCPS student in Grades 2–7. The referral window is from the first day of school to December 15.

Important: Do not wait for ability test scores before submitting a referral for your child in Grades 2–7. Referrals submitted after the deadlines will not be accepted.

Referral forms for all Advanced Academic Program services: https://www.fcps.edu/node/38893

Holistic Review for AAP Services

The screening committee conducts a holistic review of multiple data points to determine eligibility. Screening committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom.

Screening committees review:

Student work from opportunities with AAP lessons,
Examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities,
Progress reports,
Achievement and ability scores, and
Family anecdotal feedback.

All of these factors are considered holistically, without any single piece of data being weighted more than another.

Ability Testing

FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration in the holistic screening process. Test scores are not weighted or prioritized.

All students in Grade 2 take the Naglieri General Ability Test (NGAT).
The NGAT may be administered to students in Grades 3–6 who do not have an ability test score during the regularly scheduled testing windows.

Parents/guardians may request a one-time retest of an ability test in Grades 3–6. Requests must be made during the fall testing windows. Contact the school testing coordinator by September 30to request a retake.

Young Scholars

The FCPS Young Scholars model identifies and affirms students with high academic potential from historically underrepresented groups. The goal is to eliminate barriers to advanced academic opportunities in elementary, middle, and high school.

Twice-Exceptional (2e)

Some advanced learners may also experience learning challenges. Known as twice-exceptional (2e), these students need strengths-based instruction that nurtures their potential while addressing learning challenges.
To guide schools and families in identifying and supporting 2e learners, FCPS has developed a comprehensive 2e handbook, available by searching “2e”on www.fcps.edu .

Advanced Academic Programs in Middle and High School

Middle School AAP:Advanced coursework is available to all middle school students through open enrollment. Students eligible for Full-Time AAP services can:

Attend the middle school center assigned to their address, or
Enroll in Honors courses in the four core content areas at their base school.

Some middle schools offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP), encouraging critical and reflective thinking. All students at these schools participate.

High School AAP:
Advanced coursework is also open enrollment. Each FCPS high school offers AP, IB, and/or Dual Enrollmentcourses depending on the program and school.
Students are encouraged to enroll in at least one Honors course.

For more info: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs