Responsive Acceleration Pathway
RISD Advanced Learning Services
Responsive Acceleration Pathway
Some students learn at a faster pace than others and a very small subset of GT-identified require acceleration that cannot be adequately provided in a general education setting. In some cases, they need up to two years of acceleration in all four core areas of instruction (reading, math, science, and social studies).
For RAP, we will group students in grades 3-6 who have this need at MST for advanced acceleration. Students will progress through the curriculum at a faster and more personalized pace than their current grade peers. These students will combine 4th and 5th grade content into one year. This pathway provides the unique instructional opportunity for full-grade acceleration with built-in supports for the students.
More information will be provided to families of the students who qualify for Responsive Acceleration Pathways.
Decades of research support acceleration for students with high levels of ability and achievement. Some recent information can be found at the links below.
Qualification
We use a rubric (below) to identify students who may need this level of acceleration. Once they are identified with at least 3 points, the RAP teachers complete a full profile of academic, ability, and social-emotional characteristics through testing data, teacher/student/parent interviews, and any other information that would be relevant and helpful.
**We test all second graders, including students who have already qualified for gifted services, so that all may be considered for RAP.**
We will do our best to follow the following timeline.
- December: Ability testing
- January: Letters sent out to families for potential RAP students
- February: Family interviews
- March: Potential RAP students site visit
- March: Potential RAP family open house
- March: Families notified of placement decision
- March: Families make decision to attend
- Early April: RAP placements confirmed and school transfers made
Parent information meetings to be scheduled and included in the identification letters.
If you do not receive a letter for your identified GT student in grades 2-3 and you feel s/he would need this level of acceleration, please contact our office.
Waitlist Protocols
If more students qualify than available spaces, we will prioritize students using the following measures, as well as qualitative data collected through candidacy interviews and student preview day:
- Rubric points in descending order
- Siblings already in RAP
- MAP rubric points
- CogAT rubric points
Elementary Acceleration Paths
Junior High Continuation
To best serve the instructional needs of the RAP students as well as allow them the same opportunities for magnet course options, we will cluster the RAP students at Richardson West JH and/or Westwood Junior High, as campus selections by families may allow. Families will have the option of either school or they may choose to attend their home junior high school campus. Advanced Learning resources specific to these students will be concentrated at the two magnet schools beginning in the 2022-2023 school year.
Below are two examples of what a junior high course load may look like.
High School Continuation
These students will attend their assigned high school. They may apply to magnet schools and attend if they are accepted. This model allows students the best of both worlds, possible cohorts through eighth grade and yet remaining in their home community for the high school years.
For students who are already beyond the grades of the first two cohorts, RISD continues to seek opportunities to ensure the highly-able have opportunities commensurate with their abilities.
Kelsey Karcher, Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services
Email: kelsey.karcher@risd.org
Phone: 469-593-0888
Sara Mooney, Advanced Learning Specialist
Acceleration
Responsive Acceleration Pathway (RAP)
GT Professional Learning
Email: sara.mooney@risd.org
Phone: 469-593-0773