PSYC 190 week 10

Academic Acceleration

An educational strategy designed for students who perform substantially above grade level.

Content-Based Acceleration

Involves adding advanced material to specific subjects for students excelling in some areas.

Grade-Based Acceleration

Involves reducing time spent in K–12 education through mechanisms like grade skipping or early college admission.

AP Classes

Advanced Placement classes that allow students to pursue college-level studies while in high school.

Prevalence of Acceleration

Approximately 33% of U.S. high schoolers take at least one AP test, while only 1.5% have ever skipped a grade.

Social/Emotional Development Concerns

Fears that acceleration may impair social/emotional growth due to separation from age-mates.

Self-Selection Bias

A tendency for accelerated students to already be highly motivated and supported.

Short-Term Outcomes of Acceleration

Accelerated students generally outperform peers on academic measures, seen in both elementary and middle school studies.

Long-Term Outcomes of Acceleration

Accelerated students are more likely to earn advanced degrees and publish research.

Iowa Acceleration Scale (IAS)

A structured assessment tool to determine a student's suitability for acceleration.

Religious Motivation for Homeschooling

A significant percentage of families cite religion as a primary motivation for homeschooling.

Homeschooler Academic Test Scores

Homeschoolers score between the 84th–89th percentile on national tests, significantly above average.

Social Development in Homeschoolers

Homeschoolers tend to have smaller social circles but maintain high-quality relationships.

Proponents of Homeschooling

Many families believe they can provide a better education than the local public schools.

Long-Term Benefits of Acceleration

Acceleration likely helps high-achieving students academically and has generally positive social outcomes.