Responsive Acceleration Pathway

Some students learn at a faster pace than others and a very small subset of GT-identified students may benefit from up to two years of acceleration in all four core areas of instruction (reading, math, science, and social studies).

In the Responsive Acceleration Pathway (RAP), qualified students in grades 3-6 who have this need may be grouped at MST for advanced acceleration. RAP students may progress through the curriculum at a faster and more personalized pace than their current grade peers. These students and their parents may choose to complete RAP in four years, progressing at a traditional pace, or may choose to compact 4th and 5th grade into one year, resulting in a full year of acceleration. The choice of these pathways provides the unique instructional opportunity for full-grade acceleration with built-in supports for the students.

More information will be provided to families of the students who qualify for Responsive Acceleration Pathways.

Decades of research support acceleration for students with high levels of ability and achievement. Some recent information can be found at the links below.

Advanced Learning Programs & Services uses the rubric below to identify 2nd grade students who may need this level of acceleration and qualify as RAP candidates. Once 2nd grade students are identified with at least three rubric points, Advanced Learning Teachers complete a full profile of academic, ability, and social-emotional characteristics through testing data, as well as teacher, student, and parent interviews. RAP candidates also have the opportunity to participate in a RAP immersion experience. Each component of the candidacy process is meant to collect information that would be relevant and helpful in determining if RAP would be the most appropriate educational environment for a student.

**RISD universally tests all second graders, including students who have already qualified for gifted services. This insures all 2nd grade students are considered for potential RAP candidacy.**

Advanced Learning Programs & Services follows the timeline below.

• December: 2nd grade ability testing
• January: communication sent to families for potential RAP students
• January/February: parent, student, and teacher interviews; family information meeting
• February 19: RAP candidate preview day
• February 25: Families notified of RAP seat offering or placement on waitlist
• March 5: Families make decision to accept or decline RAP seat offering
• Early April: RAP placements confirmed and school transfers made for following school year

If you do not receive a letter for your identified 2nd grade GT student and you feel s/he would need this level of acceleration, please contact our office.

A waitlist is formed if the number of 2nd grade students who qualify as RAP candidates is greater than the number of 3rd grade RAP seats available. Should seats become available during the 3rd or 4th grade years, a student from the waitlist may be offered a RAP seat. In determining which waitlist candidates may be offered available seats, Advanced Learning Programs & Services will use the following measures, as well as qualitative data collected through candidacy interviews and student preview day:

• Rubric points in descending order
• Siblings already in RAP
• MAP rubric points
• CogAT rubric points

Additionally, Advanced Learning Programs & Services will look at current year MAP scores as support and verification the student still shows an educational readiness for the level of depth, complexity, and challenge RAP fosters.

RAP students and their families may choose to progress at the traditional pace or to compact 4th and 5th grade into one year, resulting in a full-grade acceleration. Families of RAP 3rd graders will make this decision in January.

The models below show each option.

RAP students who follow traditional pacing will complete one grade level per year with flexible acceleration options in math.

RAP students who compact 4th and 5th grade into one year will will enter RAP as a 3rd grade student, then will compact 4th and 5th grade to accelerate one full grade level. Because 4th and 5th grade TEKS (state standards) are quite similar, this is an ideal time for academic acceleration for students who learn quickly and enjoy the challenge of learning new information and skills.

RAP students will be automatically enrolled in GT Reading, Social Studies, Math, and Science at the junior high level. To best serve their instructional needs and interests, RAP students may apply to any magnet programs and may choose from the junior high options below:

• Westwood Junior High--Math, Science, and Leadership Magnet: Algebra II and Geometry offered as in-person classes during the school day
• Richardson West Junior High Arts & Technology Magnet: Algebra II and Geometry are virtual zero-hour classes
• attendance zone home campus: RAP students may choose to attend their home campus beginning in 7th grade.

RAP students attend their zoned home campus for high school. They also have the option to apply to and attend a magnet school, if accepted. This allows students the best of all worlds--the possibility of remaining with RAP peers through eighth grade, immersing themselves in a magnet program of interest, and/or reconnecting with their home community for high school year.

RISD continues to seek opportunities to ensure students who have already completed RAP have academics opportunities commensurate with their abilities.

Email: kelsey.karcher@risd.org

Phone: 469-593-0888

Email: sara.mooney@risd.org

Phone: 469-593-0773