The Above Grade Level Mission
Above Grade Level exists to support parents of academically capable children who are ready to learn more, faster, and better.
With educational technology and the science of learning advancing all the time, there’s less reason than ever for above-average students to be merely coasting when they could be thriving.
1. Real information about student performance in school
Many parents of capable students may mistakenly believe that their child who has scored well on tests will thus go on to receive an accelerated education based in any way upon those high scores (oops!)
This newsletter isn't exclusively for parents of child prodigies, or just those who have received an official “Gifted & Talented” label from a school.
It's for any parent whose child shows the capacity to work above grade level, whether that's a few months ahead or several years, in one subject or across the board.
2. Real information about “gifted & talented” programs
Where they even exist, “gifted & talented” [GT] programs are plagued by inconsistencies in identifying eligible students. Testing may be done only upon parent request or only during short windows of time.
Even students with very high test scores may be excluded for a lack of subjective criteria, like "creativity” or “leadership.” Gifted & talented program funding is quite limited, but GT students may be required to be taught by teachers with GT credentials/professional development. Districts make the numbers work, by hook or by crook.
As a result, many (if not most) students with above average aptitude (who could certainly benefit from a more challenging education!) will end up excluded from official GT.
Worse still, the students who do receive GT programming may also remain underchallenged! Gifted & talented programs tend to focus on “enrichment” instead of academic acceleration, or they overemphasize vague social & emotional learning topics at the expense of academics.
3. Real information about academic acceleration
We don’t have to speculate about the effects of academic acceleration.
When implemented properly for well-qualified students, academic acceleration offers benefits in both the short and long terms.
Any social and emotional harms from academic acceleration, like grade skipping, are likely to be transient.
Parents and educators mostly don’t know about this research. Instead, they are scared away from acceleration with “anecdata” and hypotheticals. This needs to change.
4. But every situation is different
Some bright students find school agonizingly boring, while others do not. Some students prefer older friends while others remain intimidated by them.
Students with similar cognitive horsepower can have radically different personalities, interests, and goals.
While it’s clear that even students performing "fine" by current metrics may be missing crucial opportunities for growth and advancement, it’s less clear what to do about it in any individual case.
Here at Above Grade Level, I’ll be bringing creativity and nuance to the critical task of educating our highly capable children (and supporting them in educating themselves).