CPS seeks final adoption of revised accelerated placement policy, staff says 1,500 more students could access acceleration

Erica Baker Perkins, Executive Director of Advanced Learning and Specialty Programs, presented a request July 9 for final adoption of a revised accelerated placement policy intended to expand access and remove unnecessary barriers for students to access acceleration.

Perkins said the draft policy reflects many months of data analysis, stakeholder engagement and changes made in response to public comment. Key revisions include: using local criteria so at least 10% of students in every school have access to apply; removing the Iowa Acceleration Scale as a required screener for single-subject acceleration because staff and school leaders found it burdensome and potentially biased; eliminating external testing fees; codifying an appeals process; and preventing double-acceleration in developmentally inappropriate ways. Since the May presentation, staff proposed two additional changes in response to comments: (1) align the GPA task for single-subject acceleration with whole-grade acceleration by requiring one year of grades instead of eight quarters as a pre-qualifier, and (2) require that any decision to exit a student from acceleration be made in collaboration with a parent or guardian.

Perkins told the board that, based on the analysis, the district expects approximately 1,500 additional students to be eligible for acceleration under the revised policy. Board members praised the local criteria and protections for students and asked about implementation details; staff said the policy would be accompanied by guidance to schools and that materials were posted for further review.

What this means: If the board adopts the revision, schools will have expanded local tools to place students into acceleration; staff said the policy balances access and student protection while codifying appeal and exit procedures.