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

Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, 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
• 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 Services, Grades 3-6 

Some students have advanced academic needs in multiple subject areas in addition to specific subject differentiation. 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
• 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.

Full Time Services

Eligibility decisions for full-time services are made by the countywide central selection committee. Screening for full-time services occurs during specific screening cycles:  

• Fall screening is available for students who are new to FCPS since January. The fall screening referral window is from the first day of school - October 15.

• Spring screening is available for any Grade 2-7 FCPS-enrolled student.  The spring screening referral window is from the first day of school - December 15.

Please do not wait for test scores before submitting a referral for your student in Grades 2-7. Referrals submitted after the full-time services referral windows noted above will not be accepted. 

Please note that Full Time referrals MUST be submitted by December 15 ^th .

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.  While screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time AAP Services can occur any time in the school year, we review data on all studentsin the Spring to determine services for the start of the next school year. 

Parents are welcome to submit a  School Based Referral Form to Bridget Holmes ( [email protected] ) our AART, during the Spring Screening window between March 21 ^st and April 21st.  Parents or guardians who submit a referral form will be notified by the local elementary school of their student’s eligibility status in early June. 

Holistic Approach

Multiple data points 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 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. No pieces of the data are weighted in the holistic screening process.

Eligibility decisions for subject-specific advanced differentiation and part-time services are made by a committee at the local school, and screening is ongoing throughout the school year. To refer for subject-specific advanced differentiation and part-time services, submit the AAP School-Based Referral Form to the AART at the local school.

Ability Testing

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

• All students in Grade 1 take the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT).
• All students in Grade 2 take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). 
• NNAT and/or CogAT may be administered to students in Grades 3-6 who do not have an ability test score during the regularly scheduled testing windows.  

Parents or guardians may request a one-time retest of either the CogAT or the NNAT in grades 3-6. Requests must be made during the fall testing windows. Please contact Bridget Holmes, no later than September 15 to request the CogAT or October 15 for the NNAT.

For more information, please visit the AAP website .  

Parents/Guardians must complete the forms to apply or request a screening for services.  

Young Scholars

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 Students

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.