Grade skipping
Encyclopedia
Grade skipping is a form of academic acceleration
, often used for academically talented students
, that involves the student entirely skipping the curriculum
of one year of school
. This is done when a student is sufficiently advanced in all school subjects that he or she can move forward in all subjects, rather than in only one or two areas.
Other key factors to a successful grade skip include the desire of the student, the receptivity of the receiving teacher, and whether a sibling is in the old or new grade. All these factors have been studied and organized into a survey called The Iowa Acceleration Scale, which when completed yields a recommendation on whether or not to accelerate.
, grade skipping is one of the most cost-effective ways of addressing the needs of a profoundly gifted student, as it requires very little more than assigning the child to a different classroom, without the expense of special materials, tutoring or separate programs. The cost of educating the gifted child in a regular classroom with typical, same-age peers is the same as the cost of educating that child in a regular classroom with typical, somewhat older students, so using grade skipping is essentially cost-free.
American schools commonly oppose grade skipping, or limit it to one or at the most two grades, regardless of the student's academic and social situation. There is no research that supports these limits, and the decision to limit grade skipping is usually based on the gut feeling
of school personnel or administration's ignorance of the academic and social benefits. Refusing to promote the student to an appropriate level can result in social isolation and educational underachievement.
Academic acceleration
Academic acceleration is the advancement of students in subjects at a rate that places them ahead of where they would be in the regular school curriculum. Acceleration is most often used as an intervention to accommodate the learning needs of gifted and talented students...
, often used for academically talented students
Gifted education
Gifted education is a broad term for special practices, procedures and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented...
, that involves the student entirely skipping the curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
of one year of school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
. This is done when a student is sufficiently advanced in all school subjects that he or she can move forward in all subjects, rather than in only one or two areas.
Timing and other factors
Sometimes the grade skip occurs at the end of an academic year, such that the student advances two grades. Grade skips are also successful at mid-year.Other key factors to a successful grade skip include the desire of the student, the receptivity of the receiving teacher, and whether a sibling is in the old or new grade. All these factors have been studied and organized into a survey called The Iowa Acceleration Scale, which when completed yields a recommendation on whether or not to accelerate.
Cost-effectiveness
As described in A Nation DeceivedA Nation Deceived
A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America's Brightest Students is The Templeton National Report on Acceleration, a report which was written in 2004 by Nicholas Colangelo, Susan G. Assouline, and Miraca Gross...
, grade skipping is one of the most cost-effective ways of addressing the needs of a profoundly gifted student, as it requires very little more than assigning the child to a different classroom, without the expense of special materials, tutoring or separate programs. The cost of educating the gifted child in a regular classroom with typical, same-age peers is the same as the cost of educating that child in a regular classroom with typical, somewhat older students, so using grade skipping is essentially cost-free.
Resistance despite benefits
Grade skipping allows students to learn at a level appropriate for their cognitive abilities. For the majority of gifted students, grade skipping is beneficial both academically and socially.American schools commonly oppose grade skipping, or limit it to one or at the most two grades, regardless of the student's academic and social situation. There is no research that supports these limits, and the decision to limit grade skipping is usually based on the gut feeling
Gut Feeling
"Gut Feeling" is a song by Devo. It appears on their 1978 album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!. The track was used on the soundtrack of the Wes Anderson film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, for which Devo member Mark Mothersbaugh composed new music, and also used in the Stacy Peralta...
of school personnel or administration's ignorance of the academic and social benefits. Refusing to promote the student to an appropriate level can result in social isolation and educational underachievement.
External links
- Iowa Acceleration Scale
- A Nation Deceived
- "Grade Skipped and Successful" - A list of prominent people who skipped at least one year of school and went on to achieve some notable success