Continuum of Advanced Academic Services in FCPS

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development efforts and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.  

FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach recognizes unique student needs. It focuses on matching students to services, not labeling students. Through the continuum, students have: 

• Many entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need.  
• A cluster group of students with similar academic needs.  

Teachers and staff work together to provide the following services at the elementary level: 

Multiple Pathways to Advanced Academics Program Services in FCPS

Access to Rigor, Grades K-6

All students have opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve.  Teachers in Grades K-6 use:

• Critical and creative thinking strategies in their lessons. 
• Materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework a least 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. Differentiated lessons are offered to these students in areas of specific academic strength. The advanced academic resource teacher collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenges through resources that extend and enrich the FCPS Program of Studies. Students who require additional challenge in specific subject areas access AAP curriculum in their content area of strength in the general education classroom.

Classroom teachers 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
• Using more materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.

Students are re-evaluated for subject-specific differentiation 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. These students need part-time AAP services.  In part-time services:

• Students work with other students who 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. 

Each year a local committee screens all students in grades 3-6 for possible participation in Part-Time advanced academic services. Part-time services continue through Grade 6. Once they are identified, 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).

Full-Time advanced academic services offers identified students a highly challenging instructional program that follows the FCPS Program of Studies. Adaptations are made to the curriculum to provide an appropriate level of challenge for advanced learners. Students participate with the entire student body in school-based activities such as student government, physical education, band and strings, chorus, and other electives.

Students eligible for Full-Time AAP services:

• Are cluster grouped with other students who have similar academic needs 
• Have Full-Time use of materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, and 
• Use a curriculum that is differentiated through acceleration, depth, and complexity of content.  

Students access Full-Time AAP services at a Local Full-Time program or a Full-Time Center.

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

Referrals for Full-Time AAP 

Students who are not in the second grade pool will not receive notification. 

Parents or guardians of students not in the second grade screening pool may initiate the full-time AAP screening process by completing and submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Full Time Referral Form to the local school. The referral form plus forms for additional optional information are available on the FCPS website (link below) and in the Parent Information Packet available at the local school.

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 (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.