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Accelerated Learning Opportunities

Whether it's enrichment activities for all students in grades K-5, high school-level classes for middle school students or Advanced Placement and dual-credit courses for high school students, District 401 offers an extensive array of accelerated learning opportunities.

The Elementary Enrichment Program is currently under review for the 23/24 school year. The review is part of a district-wide process, in which we are evaluating newly adopted curriculum resources, benchmark assessments, and progress monitoring checkpoints. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we work toward enhancing an equitable, educational experience for all students district-wide.

A Multiple-Measures Approach

The Accelerated Placement Act, an Illinois law that took effect on July 1, 2018, exists primarily to ensure that school districts have in place a quantifiable, multiple-measures process that removes any bias that could lead to discrimination in determining which students are eligible for an accelerated learning opportunity.

The purpose behind the legislation is for school districts to focus more heavily on quantifiable multiple measures as opposed to observations and assumptions made by teachers and administrators.

Participation in District 401's accelerated opportunities shall not be conditioned upon race, religion, sex, disability or any factor other than a student's eligibility under the District's multiple-measures criteria.

What Accelerated Opportunities Are Available?

Accelerated opportunities include anything enriched, Advanced Placement, high school credit (if in middle school) or dual credit (if in high school), as well as accelerated placement of students with respect to subject matter or grade.

In District 401, enrichment opportunities are available to students based on their performance on the following assessments:

These opportunities include but are not limited to the ones listed in the sections below.

Opportunities for Grades K-2

Enrichment is part of every student's schedule in kindergarten through 5th grade.

In their enrichment classes, students receive enriched lessons from the ReadyGEN curriculum for English language arts (ELA), the Bridges curriculum for mathematics and the STEMscopes curriculum for science.

Opportunities for Grades 3-5

Based on meeting District criteria, students in grades 3-5 are afforded the opportunity for next-grade-level exposure to qualifying content areas.

Each elementary school has its own enrichment teacher, who provides instruction to eligible 3rd, 4th and 5th graders via the ReadyGEN curriculum for English language arts (ELA), the Bridges curriculum for mathematics and the STEMscopes curriculum for science. 

Opportunities for Grades 6-8

Accelerated English language arts and mathematics courses are available for 6th and 7th-grade students who qualify based on predetermined criteria relating to current academic achievement. Criteria include common assessments, standardized assessments, trimester grades, student behaviors and teacher recommendations.

In 8th grade, Elm students who meet District criteria may take accelerated courses for high school credit. These courses are English 1 Honors, Core-Plus Mathematics I and Biology I Honors. For more information, visit Classes for High School Credit and Core-Plus Mathematics.

In addition, middle school students are part of the District's College & Career Pathways, an initiative focused on better aligning middle and high school curricula with the post-secondary pursuits of our students.

With the help of aligned programs of study and pathway exploration, students will graduate with well-developed post-secondary plans, stronger experiential learning opportunities and a diverse set of skills suited for academic and career success.

Opportunities for Grades 9-12

The high school has expanded the opportunities for students to take additional Advanced Placement and dual-credit courses. Both options allow EPHS students to earn college credit. More than 20 AP courses are now offered at EPHS, and students may take dual-credit classes.

Recommended students may also take the accelerated Core-Plus Mathematics program.

In addition, high school students are part of the District's College & Career Pathways, a new initiative focused on better aligning middle and high school curricula with the post-secondary pursuits of our students.

With the help of aligned programs of study and pathway exploration, students will graduate with well-developed post-secondary plans, stronger experiential learning opportunities and a diverse set of skills suited for academic and career success.

To Learn More

Accelerated learning opportunities are overseen by the District's Department for Curriculum & Instruction, which is led by Darek Naglak.